Loading ...Ukraine shoots down Russian military plane with 65 Ukrainian POWs on board. No survivors.
An Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed in the Korochansky District of Russia’s Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border on Wednesday at around noon local time, according to multiple Telegram channels. According to the channel 112, there were 63 people on board. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that all of the passengers were killed in the crash.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the plane was transporting 65 Ukrainian POWs to the Belgorod region for a prisoner exchange, as well as six crew members and three escorts, according to state media.
Andrey Kartapolov, the head of the Russian State Duma’s Defense Committee, said that another Il-76 aircraft carrying around 80 Ukrainian POWs was also flying to Belgorod. “They managed to turn around,” he said. “Ukraine’s leadership was well aware of the planned exchange and was informed of how the prisoners would be delivered. However, the Il-76 aircraft was shot down by three anti-aircraft missiles, from either a Patriot or IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system.”
Ukraine Indirectly Admits It Shot Down Large Russian Transport Plane, Possibly With Own POWs On Board
Kremlin: “By committing this terrorist act, the Ukrainian leadership showed its true face, disregarding the lives of its citizens.”
https://www.zerohedge.com/military/russian-plane-65-prisoners-crashes-near-belgorod
The IL-76 Shootdown By A US Patriot Missile Could Lead To Zaluzhny’s Replacement With Budanov
All things considered, blaming Zaluzhny – perhaps by claiming that he should have verified alleged intelligence about the IL-76’s cargo before shooting it down in order to make this seem like an unfortunate accident – is the most politically convenient option at Zelensky and his US patron’s disposal. It could shift the blame from them to him and facilitate Zaluzhny’s replacement with the much more politically reliable Budanov without much resistance from the armed forces or civil society.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/il-76-shootdown-us-patriot-missile-could-lead-zaluzhnys-replacement-budanov