A Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war crashes, according to RIA.

According to the Defense Ministry, a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport jet transporting Ukrainian Prisoners Of War for swap lost control on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, close to the Ukrainian border.

According to the Defense Ministry, which was quoted by RIA, the aircraft crashed while transporting 65 Ukrainian Prisoners Of War, six crew members, and three more passengers. The cause remained unknown for the time being.

It was learned that details on who was on board could not be immediately verified.

Baza, a channel connected to Russian Security Agencies, shared video of a large aircraft plummeting into the earth and blowing up in a massive fireball on the Telegram messaging app.

Military transport aircraft like the Il-76 are used to transfer personnel, supplies, weaponry, and equipment. With a standard crew of five, it can accommodate up to ninety passengers.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the Local Governor, announced that he was heading to the scene of an “incident” that had happened in the Korochansky District, Northeast of Belgorod city, without providing any details. Emergency personnel and detectives, he added, were already on the site.

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In response to an inquiry from a reporter, the Kremlin stated that it was investigating the matter. 

The bordering area of Belgorod, which is part of Ukraine, has seen many attacks in recent months, including a missile strike in December that claimed 25 lives.