Russian plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashes near border, Moscow says
ABC News
A Russian military aircraft carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed Wednesday in western Russia's Belgorod region, Russian officials said.
LONDON and KYIV -- A Russian military aircraft carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war was shot down in western Russia's Belgorod region on Wednesday, Russian officials said.
The "captured" Ukrainian soldiers were being transported to the Belgorod region, located along Russia's border with Ukraine, as part of an "exchange," according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Six crew members and three Russian military personnel were also aboard the Il-76.
"The crew and all passengers of the plane were killed," the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
The Russian Ministry of Defense accused the Ukrainian military of shooting down the plane "using an anti-aircraft missile system" that was launched across the border from eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian military intelligence did not deny it shot down the plane, but said it was not informed of the need to ensure the security of the airspace in the vicinity of Belgorod, during a specific time period, as has apparently happened during previous prisoner swaps.
