Russian Military Plane Carrying Ukrainian POWs Crashes, Killing All 65 on Board
A Russian IL-76 military transport aircraft crashed in the Belgorod region while transporting 65 Ukrainian Prisoners of War (POWs) for an exchange. Russia reported no survivors.
Video footage showed the aircraft rapidly descending, crashing near a residential area, and catching fire. Moscow’s defense ministry stated the crash occurred during a routine flight. Russia claimed the aircraft carried POWs, while Ukrainian sources suggested it was downed by their forces transporting S-300 surface-air defense missiles.
Russia’s parliament speaker accused Kyiv of shooting down the plane carrying POWs, emphasizing a humanitarian mission. The crash prompted an investigation in the Korochansky district, with emergency services on site. The IL-76, designed for troop and cargo transport, is a Soviet-era aircraft operated by the Indian Air Force.
The incident comes amid Russia’s unsuccessful two-year invasion of Ukraine. Despite possessing advanced military capabilities, Russia struggled to achieve air superiority.
The war has eroded confidence in Moscow’s conventional forces, leading to increased reliance on non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNWs) as a deterrent against NATO.
A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies highlighted concerns about Russia using NSNWs, questioning the West’s resolve for a nuclear response.
The invasion, starting on February 24, 2022, exposed flaws in Russia’s military strategy, including poor training, supply chain mismanagement, and unclear objectives.
Both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of escalating attacks on civilian areas. Recent incidents include Russian strikes with S-300 missiles in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, resulting in civilian injuries.
