A Russian military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed near the border with Ukraine on Wednesday, killing all 74 people on board, according to Russian authorities. Moscow swiftly accused Kyiv of shooting down the aircraft, but Ukraine has not confirmed or denied the allegation, further shrouding the incident in uncertainty.
Social media videos captured the plane plummeting from the sky in the Belgorod region, followed by a fiery explosion at the crash site. While the cause of the incident remains unclear, Russia claims its radar detected two missiles launched from the neighboring Kharkiv region in Ukraine.
Adding to the confusion, the United States expressed hesitation in accepting Russia’s narrative. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, cast doubt on the presence of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the plane. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military acknowledged targeting Russian military transport aircraft suspected of carrying missiles, particularly near the border.
Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the Russian Defense Ministry maintains that 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, along with a crew of six and three Russian servicemen, were aboard the ill-fated flight. They claim the plane was en route to a prisoner swap scheduled for that morning.
The Kharkiv and Belgorod regions have long been flashpoints in the ongoing conflict, witnessing frequent airstrikes and shelling. This latest incident, with its conflicting narratives and tragic outcome, threatens to further escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
First responders have reached the crash site, and a military commission is investigating the scene. The international community awaits further information to determine the cause of the crash and assess its potential impact on the already fragile peace process.
