Russian plane carrying 65 Ukrainian PoWs has crashed, Moscow says

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

A Russian military transport plane has crashed in the border region of Belgorod, according to Russia’s defence ministry.

The ministry said the aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian PoWs who were to be swapped. The ministry added that onboard the Ilyushin Il-76 were also six crew and three other people.

The Belgorod regional governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said all 74 people onboard had died.
...
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, said the plane had been “shot down” by Kyiv and blamed western missiles.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/24/russian-plane-carrying-ukrainian-pows-has-crashed-moscow-says

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Ukraine's general staff, quoted by the Ukrainska Pravda website, said the plane was transporting missiles for Russia's S-300 air defence systems. It made no mention of prisoners of war.
...
Some Ukrainian media suggested initially that the Il-76 may have been downed by Ukrainian forces, but those reports were later deleted.

Ukraine's general staff told BBC Ukrainian that it did not have accurate information about the situation and that it was investigating the circumstances.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68080529

[AllyCat]

1. What? That seems strangely convenient for RuZZia

[2naSalit]

2. Horrible!!

The air transport systems/companies are seeing decreasing ability to keep the aircraft maintained since the sanctions. They were getting around them by acquiring used and unused parts from other countries but that is slowing down. Watching an Estonian guy reporting on the conditions in that country I have learned a great deal about how badly they take care of things and since they are lacking both parts and mechanics, they have all been sent to war and most killed.

That it was prisoners on their way home is truly heartbreaking.

[lamp_shade]

3. I don't believe they were Ukranian POWs.

[ananda]

6. Missiles all right.

...

[pecosbob]

4. I'm skeptical at this point. Conflicting stories. I tend to disbelieve Russian media reports.

Here's a clip from a channel I follow...

If I had to guess given the location I would say it was likely a Patriot missile that took it down.

Late edit...more info. Looks like Russian misinformation.

[Kennah]

5. Moscow says

In other news, the T90M tank destroyed by Ukrainians in a Bradley AFV was carrying Ukrainian POWs.

[mitch96]

7. From what I have read the jury is still out on that claim..Just need more proof. The ruzzians have been known to

LIE!! yes?
m

[Torchlight]

8. Other than motive, aggressor, the plane, a crash,

Ukrainian POWS, missiles, Belgorod, and aircraft type, I believe all of it.

[Emrys]

9. Vast amounts of widespread doubt about Russia's claims

AP deleted an earlier tweet carrying the Russian version.

Speculation has been fuelled by the list released by Russia supposedly giving the names of the POWs on board:



Those marked in red above and below had already been released on January 3rd.



One theory is that the plane - which wasn't a troop carrier anyway - was loaded with Iranian weaponry.

So far, there are no reports of bodies having been found anywhere near the crash site.