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LONDON and KYIV — A Russian army plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of warfare was shot down in western Russia’s Belgorod area on Wednesday, Russian officers mentioned.
The “captured” Ukrainian troopers have been being transported to the Belgorod area, positioned alongside Russia’s border with Ukraine, as a part of an “change,” in keeping with an announcement from the Russian Ministry of Protection. Six crew members and three Russian army personnel have been additionally aboard the Il-76.
“The crew and all passengers of the airplane have been killed,” the Russian Ministry of Protection mentioned.
A Russian army transport airplane crashes close to Yablonovo, Belgorod area, Russia, Jan. 24, 2024, on this display seize from a social media video obtained by Reuters.
Video Obtained By Reuters/by way of Reuters
The Russian Ministry of Protection accused the Ukrainian army of taking pictures down the airplane “utilizing an anti-aircraft missile system” that was launched throughout the border from jap Ukraine’s Kharkiv area.
Ukrainian army intelligence didn’t deny it shot down the airplane, however mentioned it was not knowledgeable of the necessity to make sure the safety of the airspace within the neighborhood of Belgorod, throughout a selected time interval, as has apparently occurred throughout earlier prisoner swaps.
Ukraine mentioned the incident might quantity to “deliberate actions” by Russia aimed toward endangering the lives and security of prisoners.
It additionally accused Russia of deliberate and deliberate actions to destabilize the scenario in Ukraine and weaken worldwide assist for Kyiv.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s army intelligence, confirmed to ABC Information {that a} prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia was deliberate for Wednesday however is “not occurring now.” The knowledge from Russia about Ukrainian prisoners of warfare being on board the downed airplane is being verified, in keeping with Yusov.
A Ukrainian soldier who was launched in a prisoner swap earlier this month advised ABC Information he and others have been transported to Belgorod by way of airplane inside Russia after which taken by bus to the placement the place the change occurred.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Protection, Coordination Headquarters for the Remedy of Prisoners of Warfare and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights all issued statements Wednesday saying they’re “gathering and analyzing info” about what occurred whereas warning that “Russia continues info assaults towards Ukraine.”
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a Soviet-era army transport plane designed to ship heavy gear, weapons and cargo.
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