A Russian military aircraft, transporting 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war for a planned exchange, crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region near the Ukraine border.
All occupants on board have tragically lost their lives, as reported by Russian state-run media TASS.
Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of shooting down the plane, alleging sabotage of the prisoner exchange.
Ukraine has yet to respond to Moscow’s claims but cautioned against spreading misinformation.
A defense expert expressed skepticism, deeming it “unlikely” for the expensive aircraft to carry prisoners of war, likening it to “using a helicopter to go shopping.”