Ukraine asks Russia to prove there were prisoners on crashed plane

Russian Investigative Committee staff stand at the site of the Il-76 crash near Yablonovo, Belgorod Oblast, Russia (Photo: Russian Investigative Committee).

Ukraine's intelligence chief has questioned why Russia has not released images of the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers it claims died in the Il-76 plane crash.

Russia previously said 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed after Kiev shot down an Il-76 military transport plane on January 24 near the border between the two countries.

Kiev did not outright deny Russia's claims, but questioned key details in Moscow's account, particularly its denial about who was on board.

“If it happened as Russia claims, why does Russia… continue to hide the bodies?”, Mr. Budanov asked on January 27.

The Russian Investigative Committee has released three videos of the plane crash site.

Video is said to show a bus carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war arriving at the Russian military Il-76 aircraft (Photo: Russian Investigative Committee).

Kiev has confirmed that the two sides planned to exchange prisoners on the same day the plane was shot down. It has also not publicly denied shooting down the plane.

However, Ukraine said Russia had not requested a temporary ceasefire in the air near the border as it had in previous prisoner exchanges.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed on January 26 that the GUR agency knew clearly that the prisoners would be transported by plane.

Mr Putin said it was “obvious” that Ukrainian forces had shot down the plane and attacked it knowing that the Il-76 could be carrying their own people.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/ukraine-yeu-cau-nga-chung-minh-co-tu-binh-tren-may-bay-roi-20240128071954227.htm