Russian Plane Crash Near Ukraine: What Led To The Tragedy?

A Russian military plane, carrying at least 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, was fatally crashed while returning to its airfield in the Belgorod Region on Wednesday, resulting in their deaths.

The incident, occurring at 11 am local time, has left the cause of the accident yet to be ascertained.

Photo Credit: X/@igorsushko

Russian Plane Crash Near Ukraine

The site of the crash in the Korochansky district of Belgorod saw a swift response from firefighters, ambulances, and police, as reported by state news agency Tass, citing a local emergency services official.

The Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, has been subjected to frequent attacks from Ukraine in recent months, with a December missile strike claiming 25 lives. A video depicting a plane crash near the village of Yablonovo, followed by an explosion, circulated on social media.

Accusation against Russia

Meanwhile, the accusation of shooting down the plane was made by Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament. In a plenary session, lawmakers were informed by Volodin that the plane, carrying out a humanitarian mission, was shot down, alleging that their soldiers were targeted by Kyiv, reported CNN.

Russia and Ukraine play the blame game

A military plane with 74 people on board has been reported to have crashed in the Belgorod region of Russia, near the Ukrainian border, as per Russian media. The region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has stated that all those on board were killed.

Conflicting reports exist regarding the passengers, with Russian state media suggesting 65 Ukrainian servicemen were on the plane, intended for a prisoner swap, while Ukraine claims the IL-76 was carrying missiles for the S-300 air defence system, as per the official Ukrainian information service, citing a source in the Ukrainian armed forces. CNN has been unable to independently verify either claim and has reached out to Ukraine for comment on allegations of shooting down the plane.

Here's what has happened.

IL-76 Plane Details

The plane that crashed, identified as an IL-76, is a Soviet-era long-range freighter plane in service since 1975, according to the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. Typically operated with a seven-person flight crew, the IL-76 can carry around a 50-ton payload. It is not designed as a passenger aircraft.

Crash Location - Yablonovo Village

The crash occurred about five to six kilometers from the village of Yablonovo in the Korocha District of Russia's Belgorod Region, bordering Ukraine to its southwest, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS.

Investigation Update - On-Site Responders

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has confirmed the presence of a Russian investigative team and emergency services personnel at the crash site. He stated, "I changed my work schedule and went to the area. All details later."

Ukraine's Response and Investigation

The Ukrainian government agency responsible for prisoners of war is investigating claims that the crashed Russian military plane carried Ukrainian servicemen, potentially linked to a planned prisoner exchange. The statement provided no additional details but warned of Russia's attempt to destabilize Ukrainian society.

Confirmed Prisoner Exchange Plans

Ukraine has acknowledged that a planned prisoner swap was scheduled for today but clarified that it is "not happening at the moment." The conflict has seen multiple prisoner exchanges, with the largest occurring in early January.

Border Region Dynamics

Belgorod, increasingly drawn into Russia's war on Ukraine, has faced cross-border strikes from Kyiv in an effort to sway domestic support for Moscow's invasion. Earlier this month, Russia evacuated residents from the region following retaliatory strikes by Ukraine.