Russia’s Defense Ministry made a grave accusation on Wednesday, claiming that Ukrainian forces shot down a military transport plane, resulting in the tragic death of all 74 individuals on board. Among the casualties were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were intended for a swap.
The incident reportedly occurred in Russia’s Belgorod border region, although Ukrainian officials have yet to confirm or deny the claims made by Russia. The news broke during the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) Recognition Rites at the CSC Resource Center Auditorium in Batasan Complex.
The Associated Press could not independently verify the details of the incident, given the challenges of ascertaining facts in a war zone, where conflicting accusations are common, and information is tightly controlled by both sides.
Video footage circulating on social media depicted the aircraft plummeting from the sky in a snowy, rural area, followed by a massive explosion upon impact.
According to the Russian military, the Il-76 transport plane carried not only the 65 prisoners of war but also a crew of six and three other passengers. The Defense Ministry alleged that two missiles were launched from Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, bordering the Belgorod region, constituting what they referred to as a “terrorist act.”
Emergency services, including firefighters, ambulances, and police, promptly responded to the crash site in the Korochansky district of Belgorod, as reported by state news agency Tass.
The tragic event unfolded as part of a planned prisoner swap, with the aircraft en route from Chkalovsky airfield in the Moscow region to the Belgorod region. The exchange was scheduled to take place at the Kolotilovka crossing on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
Ukraine’s Kharkiv region and Russia’s Belgorod region have been focal points of the conflict, marked by long-range airstrikes, missiles, and drones.
In response to the crash, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War expressed a commitment to investigating the incident, cautioning against the dissemination of unverified information. The Russian Defense Ministry announced the dispatch of a special military commission to the crash site.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, refrained from commenting, citing a lack of information, while the Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman, Andrii Yusov, acknowledged the planned swap but sought verification regarding the involvement of Ukrainian POWs.
As the international community awaits further details on this tragic incident, tensions persist in the region amidst ongoing conflict, with both Russia and Ukraine actively engaged in military operations.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
