Russian Military Plane Carrying Ukrainian Prisoners of War Crashes in Belgorod Region

A Russian military transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, six crew, and three accompanying individuals has crashed in Russia‘s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine, as reported by Russia’s Defence Ministry. The cause of the crash, which occurred at around 11 a.m., is still unknown, and it remains uncertain if there are any survivors.

Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a major missile attack launched by Russia had resulted in the deaths of 18 people and injured 130. The devastating barrage of more than 40 ballistic, cruise, anti-aircraft, and guided missiles targeted residential buildings in three Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy shared this information on X, previously known as Twitter.

Russia’s recent onslaught, which included strikes on Kyiv, the capital, and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, marks one of the most intense attacks in weeks. Such aggression further reinforces Zelenskyy’s urgent requests for increased military assistance from Western allies.

As the front line of the ongoing conflict stretches over 1,500 kilometers, both sides have been focusing on replenishing their weapons stockpiles amidst harsh winter conditions. Russia has been accumulating missiles for long-range strikes, while Ukraine has been utilizing advanced drones to target Russia.

According to a U.S. think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, Russia may have employed decoy missiles in Tuesday’s attack to exploit weaknesses in Ukraine’s air defenses. Moscow is also suspected of seeking to obtain more ballistic missiles from foreign countries like Iran and North Korea.

In response to the continuous aggression, Ukraine’s air defense systems intercepted four Ukrainian drones over western Russia’s Oryol region early Wednesday. While no casualties were reported, several apartment buildings suffered shattered windows due to the incident. Another Ukrainian drone was downed in the Belgorod border region without causing any harm or damage, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Ukraine’s allies have pledged to provide ongoing military aid, despite the strain on their resources. However, the assistance offered by the United States, which remains Ukraine’s largest contributor, has faced political obstacles. In a show of support, the German defense ministry announced plans to dispatch six SEA KING Mk41 multi-role helicopters from its Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine. Germany‘s military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict has exceeded 6 billion euros, including substantial anti-aircraft and air defense systems.