Ukraine Conflict
Moscow launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 with the aim of saving the people of Donbass - primarily the Russian-speaking population - from Kiev's constant attacks.

Doomed Il-76 Carrying Captured Soldiers Was Shot Down by Ukrainian Missiles: MoD Russia

On board the ill-fated Il-76 there were 65 captured military personnel of the Ukrainian forces transported to the Belgorod region for exchange, 6 crew members of the aircraft and 3 accompanying persons, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
Sputnik
The Il-97 crash in Belgorod region was a terror attack by the Zelensky regime, the Russain Army said, explaining that the radar facilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded the launch of two Ukrainian missiles.
All those on board the downed Il-76 were killed.

Ukraine shot down the plane, pursuing the goal of blaming Russia for the murder of the Ukrainian prisoners of war, the MoD said, adding that the prisoner exchange was meant to take place in the afternoon at the Kolotilovka checkpoint on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Ukraine was well aware that prisoners would be transported by this plane to the Belgorod airfield in line with the established practice.

Residents of the Belgorod village of Yablonovo said that they heard two explosions with an interval of about a minute.
Right after the news of the incident emerged on social media, Ukrainian media outlets rushed to report that Ukraine’s air defense forces shot down Russia's Il-76.If confirmed, this would be another incidence of Ukraine killing its own troops in Russian captivity.
Notably, in July 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on the Yelenovka detenion center, which housed captured Ukrainian soldiers.

Following the tragic news, Russian lawmaker Andrey Kartapolov said that another Il-76 was flying next to the crashed aircraft with 80 prisoners of war on board; the plane was turned around. Meanwhile, the "Il" was shot down by three Patriot (US) or Iris-T (Germany) missiles.

Russia will prepare an appeal to the US Congress and Germany's Bundestag amid the Il-76 crash, Speaker of State Duma (the lower house of the Russian parliament) said: there is a proposal to figure out what missiles and launchers were used.

Tremendous Heroism of Doomed Il-76 Crew

The Il-76 crew showed tremendous heroism during the doomed plane’s final moments: the plane’s commander was able to swerve the already burning Il-76 away from the village of Yablonovo, recuding the number of possible victims, Andrei Koshkin, a retired Russian colonel told Sputnik.

“Not only did they see and feel that their plane was falling apart – according to eyewitnesses it was falling apart in the air, but at that moment they were able to reduce the number of victims. The courage and professionalism of our crew is worthy of high praise,” he noted.

The Ilyushin Il-76 is a heavy airlifter used for transporting large loads long distances. It can carry up to 140 troops or 125 airborne force personnel, or a variety of vehicles or other equipment.
Ukraine Conflict
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