On Wednesday, Russia leveled accusations against Kyiv, alleging that a military transport plane was shot down, resulting in the tragic demise of all 74 occupants, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
The aircraft was en route to the southern Belgorod region for a planned prisoner exchange at the border when it was brought down in what the Kremlin deemed a “terrorist act.”
While NBC News couldn’t independently verify the flight’s passengers or the cause of the crash, Ukrainian officials, while urging caution with “unverified information,” neither promptly denied the claims nor provided additional details.
Throughout the nearly two-year-long conflict, both neighbors have exchanged conflicting accusations. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the Ilyushin Il-76, engaged in a scheduled flight near the border, was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile system, resulting in the tragic loss of the crew and passengers, which included Ukrainian and Russian military personnel.
According to Russian radar systems, two Ukrainian missiles were launched, with the Defense Ministry suggesting that Ukraine’s government was well aware of the established practice involving military transport aircraft on that route ahead of the planned swap.
In response, Ukraine’s military emphasized its commitment to protecting its people and territory, referencing recent Russian aerial attacks on the Kharkiv region. However, the statement did not directly address the crash.
Ukraine’s military intelligence, on Telegram, acknowledged the planned prisoner exchange but lacked reliable information about the plane’s passengers. It asserted that Ukraine fulfilled its obligations, safely delivering captured Russian servicemen to the designated exchange point.
As Russia accused Kyiv of not informing about airspace safety, tensions rose amid conflicting narratives. The two nations regularly engage in prisoner exchanges, with the most recent, brokered by the UAE, involving a significant number of POWs.
Challenging the Russian claims, influential Ukrainian social media accounts questioned the likelihood of just three Russian guards on board for 65 Ukrainian prisoners. A former Ukrainian POW, Max Kolesnikov, shared his experience, noting a larger military police presence during his transfer.
In recent weeks, western Russian regions, including Belgorod, faced intensified Ukrainian strikes, contributing to heightened hostilities. Russian officials blamed Kyiv for these attacks, while Ukrainian authorities rarely publicly acknowledged strikes on Russian territory.
Belgorod, located near the border, has become a focal point in the escalating conflict, situated approximately 60 miles north of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
