MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Wednesday that a Ukrainian Il-76 military cargo plane, transporting Ukrainian servicemen for a prisoner exchange, was shot down in Russia’s Belgorod region a week ago by a US-made Patriot missile.
Putin insisted on an international investigation into the incident, expressing confusion over Ukraine’s actions and suggesting it might be an accidental crime of negligence.
He invited international experts to Russia to examine the evidence, regretting the absence of volunteers from any international organization. Despite the tragedy, Putin emphasized Russia’s commitment to continuing prisoner exchanges with Ukraine, provided the Ukrainian side signals readiness.
The plane’s downing heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides offering differing narratives. Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukraine of a “terrorist attack,” while Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence suggested Moscow might have orchestrated the incident to destabilize the situation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for an international investigation, emphasizing the need for clarity in the aftermath of the crash, which claimed the lives of all passengers and crew on board.
The incident further complicates the already delicate relationship between the two neighboring countries.
