Russia military aircraft crash: Russia Confirms Tragic Crash of Military Aircraft Resulting in Loss of All Lives Onboard.
Russia military aircraft crash: According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a transport plane, allegedly carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, was stated to have been shot down by Ukraine. However, there is no independent verification of these claims at the moment.
A significant military transport plane from Russia crashed on Wednesday in the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border, resulting in the tragic loss of all occupants, as stated by the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry accused Ukraine of intentionally shooting down the aircraft with missiles.
According to the Defense Ministry, the plane was reportedly transporting 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war to be exchanged for Russian service personnel. The ministry alleged that Ukrainian forces fired two missiles from the nearby Kharkiv region, striking the aircraft. Besides the prisoners, the plane carried six crew members and three other individuals.
It is essential to note that the Russian claims regarding the incident could not be independently verified.
While officials in Kyiv refrained from directly addressing Moscow's accusations, the military's general staff headquarters released a statement asserting the right to target Russian military transport planes in the border region. The statement, posted on the military command’s Facebook page, did not confirm or deny the act of shooting down the plane. It mentioned the ongoing conflict, citing Russian missile strikes on Kharkiv and the region, leading to casualties, and Ukraine's responsive actions targeting missile launch sites and logistics.
The Belgorod region, with its extensive border with Ukraine, has experienced frequent attacks in recent weeks. The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed the crash in a field near a settlement in the Korochansky district. Emergency services were dispatched to the site for investigation.