Exchange for blood
As it became known on 24 January, an IL-76 aircraft, which was supposed to deliver Ukrainian prisoners for exchange, crashed in the Belgorod Region. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, it was shot down by militants with a missile from the Patriot system located on the territory of Kharkov Region.
Senator Viktor Bondarev told the TogetherRF TV channel that the crew had time to report the external impact. Therefore, Moscow has no doubt that the plane was shot down.
“The fact that the plane was shot down is 100 per cent clear, visible and understandable,” he narrated.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defence Andrei Kartapolov added that the flight of the plane was known in Kiev, for the procedure for the exchange of prisoners was agreed. At the same time, he noted that the enemy fired three missiles.
“Il-76 was shot down by three missiles of an anti-aircraft missile system either Patriot or IRIS T of German manufacture, experts will figure it out,” he explained.
However, the Russian Defence Ministry officially said it had managed to record the launch of two missiles. A total of 65 prisoners of war and six crew members, as well as three escorts, were on board. The State Duma added that another plane with 80 prisoners was following. The exchange was to take place according to the 192 by 192 formula.
“A second Il-76 aircraft was flying next, which was carrying about 80 more prisoners of war, it had time to turn it around,” Kartapolov specified.
What Ukrainian media wrote about the crash of IL-76
Shortly after the crash of IL-76, the RBC-Ukraine publication reported that the Russian aircraft was shot down by the AFU. According to the journalists’ source, the aircraft could have been carrying missiles and C-300 systems. Later, the Russian Defence Ministry denied the version of the Ukrainians.
The Interfax-Ukraine source initially claimed that the Il-76 was “shot down on take-off”. The Russian military department said this was untrue, as the aircraft was scheduled to land in Belgorod.
Following Moscow’s report on the deaths of the Ukrainian prisoners, the Kiev mass media corrected their reports. For instance, the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper, which wrote about the AFU’s responsibility for the crash of the Il-76, edited the material. In the first version, the headline of the publication contained the words “the AFU said that ‘it was their job'”. The second version reported only the crash of the military aircraft.
The Russian Defence Ministry separately explained that the Kiev regime was well aware of the plane. The exchange was to take place in the afternoon at the Kolotilovka checkpoint on the border. Apparently, the procedure is now frozen.
“The Nazi Kiev regime went to this step, pursuing the goal of accusing Russia of destroying the Ukrainian military. By committing this terrorist act, the Ukrainian leadership showed its true face – neglected the lives of its citizens,” the press release emphasised.
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