Moscow indicates that the plane was carrying prisoners to be exchanged for Russian soldiers held by the Ukrainian army. However, Ukrainian military sources claim that the crashed plane was carrying missiles.
A Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft with 65 Ukrainian prisoners on-board It crashed today in the border area of Belgorodnear the border with Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports on Telegram.
The note states that the plane, which also carried six crew members and three Russian soldiers, was transported prisoners are exchanged for detained Russian soldiers by the Ukrainian army.
A video published by Baza, a channel linked to Russian security services, shows one large plane falling to the ground and exploding in a huge fireball.
Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov explained that authorities are already working to clarify the circumstances of this incident.
The Il-76 is a military transport aircraft designed to transport troops, cargo, military equipment and weapons.
Ukraine claims it was carrying missiles
According to a military source quoted by Ukrainian government agency Ukrinform, the crashed plane was carrying missiles for the S-300 anti-aircraft systems that Russia regularly uses to bomb Ukraine.
Another Ukrainian military source, quoted in the publication Ukrainska Pravda, also confirms that the Russian military plane had missiles on board and assures that was shot by Ukrainian forces.
Kiev authorities have not yet made any official comment on the plane’s crash.
Source: EITB
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