Russian plane carrying 65 Ukrainian PoWs has crashed, Moscow says | BBC News

Summary

A Russian military transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war has crashed in southwest Russia. Video footage shows the plane erupting into a fireball. Russia claims Ukraine shot down the plane, but Ukraine has not confirmed or denied involvement. The plane was meant to carry out a prisoner exchange. With both sides pointing fingers, the facts remain uncertain. Officials are still working to verify who and what exactly was on board the downed plane.

Takeaways

• 😱 Russian military transport plane crashes in southwest Russia
• 👉🏻 Video shows plane falling from sky in fireball
• 😕 Conflicting reports on who was on board - Russia says Ukrainian prisoners of war, Ukraine denies
• 🤔 Russia claims Ukraine shot plane down, Ukraine denies accusation
• 🔍 Crash happened near Ukraine border, circumstances still unclear
• ❓ Questions remain about what plane was carrying and what caused crash
• 🚨 Incident seen as embarrassing for Russian military
• 👀 Attention focused on determining exact cargo and cause of crash
• ⚠️ AFP: Russian parliament speaker also accuses Ukraine of shooting plane down
• 🕵️‍♂️ More information needed to clarify confusing and contested situation

Q & A

What happened in the southwest of Russia?

A Russian military transport plane crashed in the southwest of Russia, specifically in the Belgorod region.

Who were the passengers on board the crashed Russian military plane?

The plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, six members of the crew, and three people accompanying the prisoners.

What does the footage verified by BBC's team show about the plane crash?

The verified footage shows the plane crashing out of the sky and turning into a fireball upon hitting the ground in a village in the Belgorod region.

What are Russian officials claiming about the cause of the plane crash?

Russian officials are claiming that the plane was shot down by a missile fired by Ukraine.

What unconfirmed claims are being circulated in Ukrainian media regarding the plane's cargo?

There are unsourced claims in Ukrainian media suggesting that the plane was actually carrying missiles, but this information has not been confirmed.

Did any Ukrainian sources initially confirm their involvement in the crash?

A prominent Ukrainian website, Ukraine Pravda, initially quoted a Ukrainian military source confirming Ukraine's involvement in shooting down the Russian transport plane, but this claim was later removed.

What type of plane was involved in the crash?

The crashed plane was an IL-76, a large military transport aircraft used by Russia.

How did the Russian Defense Ministry respond to the incident?

The Russian Defense Ministry was unusually quick to release a statement about the crash, which is not typical for incidents that could be seen as embarrassing for the Russian military.

What evidence suggests the plane might have been shot down by a missile?

Videos circulating online show a puff of smoke in the sky, suggesting that the plane could have been hit by a missile.

What further information is being sought to understand the crash?

Investigations are ongoing to establish what the plane was carrying and what exactly brought it down, with evidence of debris scattered over hundreds of meters.