Russian Military Plane Crashes in Belgorod Border Region: Conflicting Reports on Board Contents
A Russian military plane carrying 74 people has crashed in the Belgorod border region, according to Russian media reports. The incident has sparked conflicting reports about the contents of the IL-76 aircraft, leaving many questions unanswered.
Conflicting Reports on Board Contents
Russian news agencies, citing the Defense Ministry, reported that 65 Ukrainian servicemen were on board the plane. They were allegedly being flown to Belgorod ahead of a prisoner swap. However, Ukrainian sources claim that the aircraft was carrying missiles for the S-300 air defense system. These conflicting reports have not been independently verified by CNN or any other sources.
In addition to the servicemen, there were six crew members and three accompanying personnel on board the IL-76 cargo plane, according to Russian officials. Andrey Kartapolov, a member of the Russian Parliament’s defense committee, revealed that there was a second military plane, also an IL-76, carrying an additional 80 prisoners of war. This second plane was diverted and did not crash.
Kartapolov further stated that the Ukrainian leadership was aware of the impending exchange and had been informed about how the prisoners would be delivered. However, he claimed that the IL-76 plane was shot down by three missiles, possibly from anti-aircraft missile systems, Patriot missiles, or German-made IRIS missiles.
Ukraine’s government has not yet responded to Russia’s claims of responsibility for the downing of the plane.
Location and Impact
The crash occurred approximately five to six kilometers away from the village of Yablonovo in the Korocha District of Belgorod Region, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS. Fortunately, no damage was done to the village itself, as the plane crashed in a field outside of it. The local church and school were also unaffected by the incident.
Response and Investigation
The Kremlin has chosen not to comment on the reported crash. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated that they are currently dealing with the new information and cannot provide any further details at this time.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that an investigative team and employees from the Emergency Situations Ministry are currently at the scene. He personally visited the area after changing his work schedule. However, he did not provide any additional information about the incident.
About the Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a Soviet-era military transport aircraft with a payload capacity of over 50 tons, according to Eurocontrol, Europe’s air safety body. This aircraft has been in service since 1975.
Context of the Conflict
The border city of Belgorod was previously the site of one of the deadliest Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil. The attacks, which occurred late last year, resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, including three children, and left 108 others wounded. These attacks triggered retaliatory strikes by Russia on the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.
The crash of the military plane comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its third year. However, there has been little progress made by either side on the battlefield in recent months. Western intelligence assessments suggest that there may be further stagnation in battlefield movement this year.
Prisoner Exchanges
Throughout the conflict, Kyiv and Moscow have exchanged prisoners of war. The largest swap occurred earlier in January when both sides exchanged over 200 prisoners.
As this is a developing story, further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.