War

The downing of IL-76: Ukraine insists on international investigation

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine will insist on an international investigation into the crash of a Russian IL-76 military aircraft near Belgorod yesterday. This was reported by the President’s press service

“We need to establish all the clear facts. As much as possible, given that the crash occurred on Russian territory, which is beyond our control. “Facts” is the key word now. I have heard from the Commander-in-Chief and the General Staff about the use of the Air Force. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine is working to find out the fate of all the prisoners. The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating all the circumstances. And I have instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to inform our partners about the available data. Our state will insist on an international investigation,”

– the President said.

Russian propagandists have launched an extensive information campaign focusing on the fact that Ukraine killed its own soldiers and used Western weapons. Most experts agree that the purpose of these statements is to sow distrust in Ukraine among its partners, which should result in a reduction in arms supplies to our country. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that Russia is also trying to sow distrust in the Ukrainian Armed Forces among Ukrainian citizens.

Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, commented on the situation. He said that Ukrainians will continue to destroy Russian military aircraft.

“The Air Force is doing everything to get the enemy both in the sky and on the ground. You read our reports. Many Russian aircraft and their crews will never be able to terrorise our people again. They have been destroyed! …Russian propaganda is directing a fake flow of information to an external audience – trying to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community. The goal is obvious – they want to reduce international support for our country. This will not work! Ukraine has the right to defend itself and destroy the aggressor’s air attack assets,”

– oleshchuk said.

The situation with IL-76

• Yesterday, an IL-76 military aircraft went down in the Belgorod region of Russia. The Russian military leadership stated that there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board, who were being transported for exchange.
• Some Ukrainian media outlets, citing their own sources, reported that the plane was actually carrying ammunition for S-300 systems.
• The Main Intelligence Directorate reported that the exchange of prisoners of war was indeed planned for that day, but it did not take place.
• The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has not yet commented on the situation.