2:19 p.m
Plane hit by two missiles
The Russian Defense Ministry says its radar detected the firing of two Ukrainian missiles when a Russian Il-76 transport plane crashed on Wednesday. Authorities in Russia's Belgorod region said all 74 people aboard the plane, which Moscow said was carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war to be exchanged for Russian prisoners, were killed.
2:07 p.m
Kiev Secret Service: The prisoner exchange planned for today will not take place
The prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine planned for today “will not take place,” said Andriy Yusov, spokesman for the Ukrainian military intelligence agency Gur, on X, without providing any further information for the time being. The Kyiv Post adds that according to Yusov's own statements, the information provided by the Russian side is currently being verified, according to which prisoners of war could have been on the Il76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region.
12:50 p.m
No survivors after Russian military plane crashes in Belgorod
The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said all people on board the military transport plane that crashed in the region were dead, Portal reports. There were 74 people on board the Il-76 transport plane, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be exchanged for Russian prisoners, the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier.
12:47 p.m
Moscow confirms: plane shot down from Kiev
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the Russian Ilyushin plane that crashed in the Belgorod region was shot down by Ukrainian forces. This was reported by the Tass agency.
11:05 a.m
Kiev: We shot it down, it was carrying missiles
The governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast has confirmed the crash of a Russian Il-76 military transport plane, calling it an “accident.” Ukrainian military sources cited by Ukrainska pravda confirmed that they shot down the plane and said it was armed with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. “The accident occurred in Korocha district. An investigation team and the Ministry of Civil Protection are on site. I have changed my agenda and am heading there,” Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram, promising to provide more details later.
11:01
Plane crashed in Belgorod, what we know so far
A Russian military aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-76, crashed in Russia's Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine. This was written by the main Russian Telegram channels covering events related to the conflict in Ukraine. The Moscow Defense Ministry confirmed that the transport plane crashed this morning in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were due to be released as part of an exchange. There were also 6 crew members and 3 “companions” on board. This was reported by the Ria Novosti agency.
The Ukrainian version is different. Ukrainian military sources cited by Ukrainska pravda confirmed that they shot down the plane and said it was armed with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. “The accident occurred in Korocha district. An investigation team and the Ministry of Civil Protection are on site. I have changed my agenda and am heading there,” Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram, promising to provide more details later.
10:59
Russians shoot down Ukrainian drone near Belgorod
Russian air defense forces destroyed a drone over the village of Blishnoye near Belgorod. This was written by regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram. “In the Belgorod region, an aircraft UAV was shot down by an air defense system over the village of Blizhnoye. There are no casualties,” the official said.
10:42 a.m
What is the Ilyushin Il-76?
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a strategic transport aircraft manufactured first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. It was developed by OKB 39 between the 1960s and 1970s and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1974. Designed to transport significant quantities of goods, troops and vehicles over long distances, it enjoyed considerable commercial success. It was also characterized by some anachronistic solutions for the time of its development, such as the glazed bow and tail gun, and was developed in numerous versions, for example as an AWACS called Beriev A-50 and as a tanker called Il-78. As of 2023, the procurement of a total of 27 newly built Il-76MD-90A versions by the Russian Aerospace Forces is underway.
10:38
Moscow: 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board
The Moscow Defense Ministry confirmed that an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane crashed this morning in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine and that there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board who were due to be released as part of an exchange. There were also 6 crew members and 3 “companions” on board. This was reported by the Ria Novosti agency.
10:33 a.m
63 people on board
There were apparently 63 people on board the Russian transport plane Ilyushin, which crashed this morning in the Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine. This was stated by the Russian Telegram channel “112”, which is one of the most visited with over 220,000 subscribers.