Contrary to Russian assertions, the Russian Il-76 transport plane that went down on January 24th did not carry Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to Oleksii Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. This information was disclosed in an interview with Babel, published on February 9th.
“I can definitely tell you that our prisoners were not there,” Danilov stated in the interview.
The incident involving the Russian Il-76 aircraft crash in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast on January 24th was initially reported by Russia as carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs meant for an exchange. However, evidence supporting the presence of any POWs on the aircraft remains unreleased by Russia.
Upon hearing Russia’s claims, Ukraine formally requested the repatriation of the deceased POWs, but received no response from the Russian government. Additionally, Russia reportedly prevented the International Committee of the Red Cross from inspecting the crash details.
Danilov has accused Russia of concocting the narrative and argued that had Ukrainian POWs been on board, Russia would have likely documented the crash site for propaganda purposes. He mentioned that significant “biological material” would’ve been found, similar to the debris at the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crash site in 2020. “There was nothing like that there; they had the whole story prepared,” Danilov commented. “They have nothing to show because if this had really happened, the picture would have been completely different.”
Anonymously, U.S. officials informed The New York Times that the crash of the Il-76 plane was likely caused by an American-made Patriot missile system and that the plane may have been transporting Ukrainian prisoners. Additionally, it’s suggested that Ukraine targeted the plane based on limited intelligence, considering its previous use in missile transport, which elevated its significance for the Ukrainian military.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is pursuing a criminal investigation into the incident.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Were there Ukrainian POWs on the crashed Russian Il-76?
- No, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksii Danilov denied the presence of Ukrainian POWs on the plane.
- Did Russia prove the presence of Ukrainian POWs on the aircraft?
- No, Russia has not provided tangible evidence that there were Ukrainian POWs on the aircraft.
- Has Russia responded to Ukraine’s request for the bodies of POWs?
- No, the Russian government did not respond to Ukraine’s appeal.
- What is the U.S. officials’ stance on the plane crash?
- According to anonymous U.S. officials, a Patriot missile system likely downed the Il-76, which may have been carrying some Ukrainian prisoners.
- Is there an investigation into the plane crash?
- Yes, Ukraine’s Security Service has opened a criminal case to investigate the crash.
Conclusion
The downing of the Russian Il-76 transport plane has led to conflicting reports from Russia and Ukraine regarding the presence of Ukrainian POWs on board. Ukrainian official Oleksii Danilov has publicly refuted Russian claims of transporting Ukrainian POWs at the time of the crash. With Russia’s lack of response and evidence, the narrative remains contested. The truth behind the crash is expected to unfold as the Ukrainian criminal case investigation proceeds and further details emerge from both national and international sources.
Note: The information in this article is a revised account based on various internet sources and AI news feeds. The UBJ is not the original creator of the news content but provides rewritten versions for reference. The original source can be found at https://kyivindependent.com/danilov-no-ukrainian-pows-on-crashed-russian-il-76-aircraft/.