The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Wednesday that Kiev shot down a transport plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners en route to a prisoner exchange.
Ministry strike saidAll 74 people on board were killed in what authorities called a “terrorist attack.”
Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov: 'It was completely intentional' told state media. “They knew very well where the planes were going and that the operators of the (Ukrainian) surface-to-air missile systems would not mistake the transport planes for military aircraft or helicopters as targets.”
The ministry said two Ukrainian military missiles were fired at the plane.
“By carrying out this terrorist attack, the Ukrainian leadership showed its true nature of disregard for the lives of its people,'' the Russian Ministry said.
Ukraine has not commented on the report.
If confirmed, the attack would be the deadliest on the Russian mainland since the start of the war in the region, which began nearly two years ago.
The plane crash occurred in Belgorod Oblast, which borders Ukraine. The exchange of prisoners was scheduled for later Wednesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine's Prisoner of War Treatment Coordination Headquarters warned that the incident was “unconfirmed information” and did not disclose details of the incident.
“We emphasize that the enemy is actively conducting special intelligence operations against Ukraine aimed at destabilizing Ukrainian society,” the statement said on Telegram.
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