Moscow accuses Kiev of shooting down plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners

Moscow said Ukrainian forces in Kharkov used a missile to shoot down a Russian military plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners, calling the act "barbaric".

"Ukraine shot down its own soldiers. The mothers, wives and children of those soldiers are waiting for them to return. Ukraine used American and German missiles to shoot down defenseless pilots who were flying military transport planes on a humanitarian mission," Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on January 24.

Mr. Volodin said that the Russian State Duma is preparing to submit a petition to the US and German parliaments so that their parliamentarians can clearly see how they are funding and helping people.

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that Ukrainian forces in Kharkov were behind the downing of the Il-76 transport plane in Belgorod province, adding that their radars detected the launch of two Ukrainian missiles.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the incident occurred hours before an agreed prisoner exchange on January 24, scheduled to take place at the border crossing in Belgorod. "The Ukrainian leadership is well aware that the Ukrainian servicemen involved in the exchange will be transported by military transport aircraft to Belgorod airport today," the statement said.

Plane wreckage at the scene in Belgorod. Photo: RT

The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the downing of the transport plane as "barbaric". Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said the incident was the result of infighting among Ukrainian politicians.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the country needed time to verify the data and would comment later. The Ukrainian government agency responsible for prisoner of war issues said it was investigating Russia's claim.

Local Ukrainian media initially cited defense sources as saying that the Ukrainian military had shot down the Russian plane and that the transport plane was carrying missiles. These reports were later retracted.

Russian heavy transport plane crashes in Belgorod province — Il-76 plane crashes to the ground in video released today. Video: *Telegram/RVvoenkor*

A Russian Il-76 transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, 3 guards and 6 crew members crashed in Belgorod province on January 24, killing all on board.

Russia and Ukraine have carried out 49 prisoner exchanges since the conflict began nearly two years ago. Ukraine says more than 8,000 of its citizens are being held by Russia, including civilians.

Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on the Russian border province of Belgorod since late last year. One of the bloodiest attacks took place on December 30, 2023, killing 25 people and injuring 109.