Ukrainian army’s first statement after Russian military plane crash makes no mention of incident, stresses targeting of Russian military transport aviation in Belgorod

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces issued its first official statement after an Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed in the Korochansky District of Russia’s Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border. In the statement, the department notes that Russia has recently increased the number of missile strikes on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Ukraine’s Armed forces are tracking missile launch points and “taking measures to destroy their means of delivery.”

The Ukrainian military did not directly mention the crash in its statement:

In order to minimize missile threats, Ukraine’s Armed Forces not only controls airspace but also carefully tracks missile launch points and delivery logistics, especially using military transport aircraft.

The recorded intensity of shelling is directly related to the increased number of military transport planes that have recently been heading toward the Belgorod airfield.

Taking this into account, Ukraine’s Armed Forces will continue to take measures to destroy the means of delivery, and control the airspace to destroy the terrorist threat, including in the direction of Belgorod-Kharkiv.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Il-76 military aircraft that crashed was transporting 65 Ukrainian POWs to the Belgorod region for a prisoner exchange, as well as six crew members and three escorts, according to state media. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that all on board were killed in the crash. The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement calling the crash a “terrorist attack” that was caused by the “Kyiv regime.”

Andriy Yusov, the spokesman for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, confirmed that a prisoner exchange was planned for today. He said that Russia’s claims that prisoners could have been on the plane are currently being verified.

News outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported that the aircraft was transporting S-300 missiles.