A Russian Ilyushin-76 military transport aircraft met a tragic fate when it crashed in the Belgorod region, close to the Ukraine border. The crash resulted in the loss of at least 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, as reported by Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
Details of the Crash
The incident occurred near the village of Yablonovo, approximately 70km northeast of Belgorod, around 11:00 local time. Social media footage captured the moment the plane went down, followed by a large explosion. The Russian news agency Ria Novosti reported that, in addition to the Ukrainian prisoners, the plane carried six crew members and three other individuals, totaling nine persons on board. However, these details have not been independently verified.
Unclear Circumstances
Initial reports from some Ukrainian media outlets speculated that Ukrainian forces might have downed the aircraft. However, these reports were later retracted. The true cause of the crash remains unclear. Ukraine’s general staff, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda, stated that the aircraft was transporting missiles for Russia’s S-300 air defense systems, but did not mention the presence of prisoners of war.
Official Responses and Investigation
Belgorod’s regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, acknowledged an “incident” but refrained from providing specifics. Meanwhile, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the Kremlin’s awareness of the crash but withheld further details. The transportation of the Ukrainian prisoners to Belgorod for an exchange, as stated by Ria Novosti, adds another layer of complexity to the incident.
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