Russia Says A Plane With 65 Ukrainian POWs Crashes, Killing All Aboard
Tensions escalate between Russia and Ukraine as Moscow alleges a deliberate attack on a military transport plane en route to a planned prisoner exchange. Russia says a plane with Ukrainian POWs crashes, carrying 74 individuals, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, was a result of a "terrorist act."
Author:Suleman ShahReviewer:Han JuJan 26, 2024817 Shares43K Views
Tensions escalate between Russia and Ukraine as Moscow alleges a deliberate attack on a military transport plane en route to a planned prisoner exchange. Russia says a plane with Ukrainian POWs crashes, carrying 74 individuals, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, was a result of a "terrorist act." The incident marks a tragic turn in the ongoing conflict, now nearing its two-year mark, with both nations pointing fingers amid heightened hostilities. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest developments in this rapidly evolving situation.
Russia Says A Plane With Ukrainian POWs Crashes
Russia and Ukraine find themselves embroiled in a fresh wave of hostilities as both nations trade blame over the tragic crash of a military transport plane, intensifying the information war that has become a hallmark of their protracted conflict. The incident occurred on Wednesday, with Moscow asserting that the plane, carrying 74 individuals, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), was deliberately shot down by Kyiv's forces.
Despite the reported discovery of flight recorders a day after the crash, hopes for clarity on the circumstances remain bleak, given the longstanding trend of both sides using accusations to influence domestic and international opinion. The Il-76 crashed in a rural area of Russia, claiming the lives of all 74 on board, including six crew members, three Russian servicemen, and the majority being Ukrainian POWs.
The aftermath triggered a flurry of claims and counterclaims, with no concrete evidence presented by either side. Russia alleges that Kyiv targeted the plane with two missiles, describing the incident as a "totally monstrous act." The Kremlin's Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal probe, classifying the crash as a terrorist act.
In response, Ukraine cast doubt on the presence of POWs and put forward alternative theories, including the suggestion that the plane may have posed a threat. The Ukrainian military's general staff issued a statement, implicitly warning of potential targeting of Russian military transport planes, particularly near the border.
Ukraine's Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, accused Russia of disseminating false information through "rampant propaganda" to discredit Ukraine on the global stage. While Ukrainian officials confirmed a planned prisoner exchange on Wednesday, they maintained it was called off. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's intention to seek an international investigation.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, scheduled for Thursday afternoon in New York. The discovery of the flight recorders was reported by the state-owned RIA Novosti newsagency, citing emergency services.
As the conflict nears its two-year mark, the 1,500-kilometer front line remains largely static. Both sides are focusing on replenishing weapons stockpiles, with recent attention on long-range strikes. Notably, earlier this month, the Ukrainian air force claimed to have shot down a key Russian early warning and control plane.
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, called for international experts to have access to the crash site and expressed readiness to provide information. He emphasized transparency, stating:
“„We definitely don’t have anything to hide.- Dmytro Lubinets
The crash's impact on future POW exchanges remains uncertain, with Lubinets noting the unpredictability of negotiations with the Russian side. Meanwhile, Andrei Kartapolov, head of the defense affairs committee in the Russian parliament, affirmed Russia's commitment to continuing prisoner exchanges.
In a parallel development, Ukraine's largest oil and gas company, Naftogaz, reported a large-scale cyberattack affecting its data centers, leading to the shutdown of websites and call centers. Ukraine's national postal service and the State Service for Transport Safety also reported technical failures, with the nature of these issues yet to be specified.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the tragic crash of the Russian Il-76 military transport plane, both Russia and Ukraine find themselves entangled in a webof accusations and counterclaims. Moscow asserts that Kyiv's forces deliberately shot down the aircraft, which was purportedly carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war bound for a scheduled exchange. The dramatic footage of the Il-76 crashing in a ball of fire near the Ukraine-Russia border intensified the verbal sparring between the two nations.
As the smoke clears, Ukrainian officials, while stopping short of explicitly denying involvement in the downing of the aircraft, maintain a cautious stance. They refrain from confirming the presence of Ukrainian soldiers on the ill-fated plane destined for the planned prisoner exchange.
Suleman Shah
Author
Suleman Shah is a researcher and freelance writer. As a researcher, he has worked with MNS University of Agriculture, Multan (Pakistan) and Texas A & M University (USA). He regularly writes science articles and blogs for science news website immersse.com and open access publishers OA Publishing London and Scientific Times. He loves to keep himself updated on scientific developments and convert these developments into everyday language to update the readers about the developments in the scientific era. His primary research focus is Plant sciences, and he contributed to this field by publishing his research in scientific journals and presenting his work at many Conferences.
Shah graduated from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Pakistan) and started his professional carrier with Jaffer Agro Services and later with the Agriculture Department of the Government of Pakistan. His research interest compelled and attracted him to proceed with his carrier in Plant sciences research. So, he started his Ph.D. in Soil Science at MNS University of Agriculture Multan (Pakistan). Later, he started working as a visiting scholar with Texas A&M University (USA).
Shah’s experience with big Open Excess publishers like Springers, Frontiers, MDPI, etc., testified to his belief in Open Access as a barrier-removing mechanism between researchers and the readers of their research. Shah believes that Open Access is revolutionizing the publication process and benefitting research in all fields.
Han Ju
Reviewer
Hello! I'm Han Ju, the heart behind World Wide Journals. My life is a unique tapestry woven from the threads of news, spirituality, and science, enriched by melodies from my guitar. Raised amidst tales of the ancient and the arcane, I developed a keen eye for the stories that truly matter. Through my work, I seek to bridge the seen with the unseen, marrying the rigor of science with the depth of spirituality.
Each article at World Wide Journals is a piece of this ongoing quest, blending analysis with personal reflection. Whether exploring quantum frontiers or strumming chords under the stars, my aim is to inspire and provoke thought, inviting you into a world where every discovery is a note in the grand symphony of existence.
Welcome aboard this journey of insight and exploration, where curiosity leads and music guides.
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