Headquarters for Prisoners of War: All information on the IL-76 is being collected and analyzed
The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and other relevant structures are currently collecting and analyzing all the necessary information about the Russian Il—76 aircraft that crashed in Russia. The Russian Federation claims that there were captured Ukrainians on board.
This is stated in a statement from the headquarters.
Until official statements or comments from authorized persons or bodies are made public, the headquarters urged to refrain from disseminating unverified information.
“We emphasize that the enemy is actively conducting special information operations directed against Ukraine, the purpose of which is to destabilize Ukrainian society. We ask you to responsibly disseminate sensitive information and use only official sources,” the statement says.
What is known about the crash of Il-76?
On the morning of January 24, the governor of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, Gladkov, said that a drone was shot down in the region and a missile alert was announced. Subsequently, he reported that an “event” occurred in the Korocha district, to which emergency officials were responding.
Russian Telegram channels that connect with Russian security forces reported that an Il-76, a military transport aircraft designed for transporting and landing personnel, equipment, and cargo for various purposes, crashed in the region. Dozens of deaths were reported on board.
Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources in the Defense Forces, reported that the downing of the Russian Il-76 was the work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The General Staff told the publication that the plane was transporting missiles to the S-300 systems with which the Russians are shelling the Kharkiv region. Interfax-Ukraine, citing an informed source close to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, writes that the Russian Il-76 plane was shot down on takeoff.
At the same time, according to Suspilne, the Ministry of Defense cannot now confirm that the plane was hit by the Ukrainian Defense Forces since they are “still looking into the matter”.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin media, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense, wrote that there were allegedly 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board the Il-76, who were transported for exchange, as well as 6 crew members and three accompanying persons. Russia says that on January 24, a large exchange of prisoners who were transported by plane was being prepared, and the Ukrainian side was allegedly warned about this.
There have been no official comments from Ukraine regarding the situation with the Il-76.
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