Conflicting information about 'Ukrainian prisoners of war on downed Russian Il-76'

An unnamed US official said a Russian transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war was shot down over Belgorod, while Kiev denied this information.

US media on February 9 quoted unnamed US defense officials as saying that a Patriot air defense missile "provided to Ukraine by a European partner" shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane over Belgorod province late last month.

It was the first time US officials had confirmed that a Patriot missile was used in the incident, although Washington has never publicly commented on the weapon that shot down the Russian plane. The officials added that it was likely that at least some of the people on board were Ukrainian prisoners of war. "The loss of life is very regrettable," one said.

Debris of the Il-76 transport plane that crashed in Belgorod province, Russia, on January 24. Photo: SKR — Debris of the Il-76 transport plane that crashed in Belgorod province, Russia, on January 24. Photo: *SKR*

Some Western officials said on the same day that the Ukrainian air defense crew acted based on "legitimate but flawed intelligence", emphasizing that the downed Il-76 had been carrying missiles and was considered a high-value target for Kiev.

The White House and the Pentagon have not commented on the information.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, later dismissed the possibility that the Il-76 was carrying Ukrainian prisoners when it was shot down. "If this were true, Russia would have presented all the evidence. They have nothing to prove, it would be completely different if there were prisoners there," he said.

Russia's Investigative Committee said last week that DNA testing on nearly 700 body parts found at the scene had confirmed the identities of 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.

On January 24, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that an Il-76 heavy transport aircraft with a crew of six, carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war and three guards, was shot down by Ukrainian air defense units in Kharkov province and crashed into a field in Belgorod province. All on board were killed.

Ukrainian officials have not confirmed whether any Ukrainian soldiers were on board, nor have they commented on the cause of the Il-76 crash. However, before the crash, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency announced that a prisoner exchange was scheduled to take place that same day.

Russia has released a list of 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were on board the Il-76, along with videos of their bodies and documents. Ukraine’s POW agency confirmed the list included those who would be exchanged. Ukrainian officials said Russia had not yet handed over the bodies of the dead prisoners, while the Kremlin said Moscow had not received a request for their return from Kiev.

Vu Anh (According to RT, Ukrainskaya Pravda, Babel )

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