Russian Investigators Determine US-Made Missiles Shot Down Military Transport Plane near Russian-Ukrainian Border
Russian investigators have announced their findings regarding the downing of a military transport plane near the Russian-Ukrainian border last week. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the plane was shot down by two missiles launched from a U.S.-made surface-to-air system. The crash site, located in the western Belgorod region, yielded over 100 fragments of MIM-104A anti-aircraft missiles and hundreds of body parts.
The Investigative Committee stated that Ukrainian servicemen from the Liptsy settlement in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region were responsible for the attack. They allegedly used an anti-aircraft system to launch two missiles at the Il-76 military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces. To support their claim, the committee released a video showing investigators inspecting the recovered missile fragments.
Experts conducted an analysis of the fragments and determined that they matched the design features, geometric characteristics, and markings of the MIM-104A anti-aircraft guided missile. This missile is part of the U.S. Patriot system, developed by Raytheon and Hughes corporations and manufactured by Raytheon.
The crash site also revealed a grim discovery. More than 670 body parts were recovered, which were later identified through genetic examination. The fragments belonged to six crew members, three military police officers, and 65 Ukrainian servicemen who tragically lost their lives in the crash.
President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Wednesday that the plane was indeed shot down by missiles fired from a Patriot anti-aircraft system. However, Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the incident.
In response to the incident, Moscow has called for an international investigation. However, concrete steps to facilitate such an investigation have not been taken yet. It is important to note that the findings presented by Russian law enforcement have not been independently verified.
The downing of the military transport plane near the Russian-Ukrainian border has further escalated tensions between the two nations. The incident raises questions about the involvement of external forces and the potential consequences for regional stability.
The international community eagerly awaits further developments and hopes for a transparent investigation that will shed light on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Until then, the situation remains tense, with both Russia and Ukraine grappling with the aftermath of this devastating event.
