Russian plane crash that killed 74 is Ukrainian 'act of terrorism', says Moscow
Dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in a Russian plane crash, which left no survivors, ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports
A Russian military plane has crashed near the Ukraine border, killing all 74 passengers onboard, Russia's Defence Ministry said.
The flight had been carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war - they were reportedly servicemen being flown to Belgorod ahead of a prisoner swap.
Russia has said the the aircraft "was shot down" in "a terrorist act" by Ukraine.
A statement by the Russian Defence Ministry said: "Today, at 11.15 am, the Kyiv regime committed a terrorist act as a result of which a Russian military transport aircraft was shot down, flying along the route Chkalovsky-Belgorod airfield to transport Ukrainian military personnel for exchange."
"The plane was destroyed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the area of Liptsy, Kharkiv region, using an anti-aircraft missile system," the ministry said. "The radar equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces observed the launch of two Ukrainian missiles."
Ukraine has admitted it hit a plane, but has not said which plane or claimed responsibility for the incident.
Also on board were six crew members and three accompanying personnel. The plane was downed at 11.15 am local time (8.15am GMT).
Firefighters, ambulances and police rushed to the site in the Korochansky district of Belgorod, state news agency Tass reported, citing a local emergency services official.
Two senior Russian politicians alleged, without providing evidence, that the plane was brought down by missiles launched by Ukrainian forces.
Shortly before the crash, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Belgorod's governor said on his Telegram channel that a "missile alert" had been triggered in the region and warned residents to take shelter.
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said it was looking into the crash, but did not immediately provide any information.
Instead, it cautioned against sharing "unverified information".
“We emphasise that the enemy is actively conducting information special operations against Ukraine aimed at destabilising Ukrainian society,” it said in a statement on Telegram.
Russian officials and lawmakers expressed outrage and questioned whether there should be further prisoner swaps.
The most recent one, brokered by the United Arab Emirates, took place this month and was the biggest to date, with 230 Ukrainians returning home and 248 Russians released.
It was the first in almost five months and 49th since the war began.
Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Russia’s Belgorod region have long been a focus of the fighting, especially involving airstrikes with missiles and drones.
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