Russian Military Transport Plane Shot Down Over Border: Putin Accuses Ukraine of Attack
Ukrainian prisoners aboard Russian plane shot down in border region, sparking accusations from President Putin. Ukraine calls for international investigation as tensions between the nations escalate.
A Russian military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners was shot down over the border region of Belgorod this week, with President Vladimir Putin accusing Ukraine of carrying out the attack. According to Moscow, the plane was on its way to the region for a prisoner swap when it was struck by anti-aircraft missiles. Putin stated that it was obvious Ukraine was responsible for the attack, alleging that the Ukrainian army knew the plane was transporting 65 servicemen and deliberately targeted it.
Russia’s Federal Investigative Committee has released (very grainy) footage that purportedly shows the Ukrainian POWs being loaded onto the Il-76 military transport plane that was shot down on Wednesday. https://t.co/IbGaJ3iqFW pic.twitter.com/ZaQ4xKJVwh
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) January 26, 2024
Ukraine has not confirmed or denied its involvement in the crash, but officials have raised questions about whether prisoners were actually on board. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an international investigation into the incident. Both countries have opened criminal investigations into the incident, with tensions between Moscow and Kyiv escalating as a result. The situation adds to the ongoing conflict between the two nations, further complicating efforts to find a peaceful resolution.
