Russian Military Plane Carrying Ukrainian Prisoners of War Crashes Near Border

A Russian military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed near the Russian-Ukrainian border today. The Ilyushin Il-76, operated by the Russian Defence Ministry, was transporting 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, along with six crew members and three guards, to be exchanged for Russian captives. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, and a special military commission has been dispatched to the crash site.

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According to the defence ministry, the plane was carrying a total of 74 people when it went down. There is no immediate information on the cause of the crash. Lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov claimed during a parliamentary session that the plane had been shot down by three missiles, although the source of this information is unclear.

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Video footage posted on the Russian security services-linked Baza Telegram channel showed the aircraft falling towards the ground near the village of Yablonovo in the Belgorod region. The plane exploded upon impact, creating a massive fireball. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the local governor, announced that an incident had occurred in the region’s Korochansky district and that he was on his way to inspect the site. Investigators and emergency workers are already present at the scene.

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The Ilyushin Il-76 is a military transport aircraft designed for troop, cargo, and equipment transportation. It is capable of carrying up to 90 passengers and typically has a crew of five. The Kremlin is currently looking into the situation, but no further statements have been made.

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The Belgorod region, which shares a border with Ukraine, has experienced frequent attacks from Ukraine in recent months. In December, a missile strike in the region resulted in the deaths of 25 people.