Russia’s Investigative Committee opens terrorism case after Russian military plane crash

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a terrorism case after a Russian Il-76 military transport plane crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine, reports the agency’s press service.

The agency’s statement says that initial findings from the investigation, including preliminary data from the crash site, “allow us to conclude that the aircraft was attacked by an anti-aircraft missile from Ukrainian territory.”

The Investigative Committee reported that six crew members were on board the plane, as well as military police personnel and more than 60 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The agency didn’t specify exactly how many military police employees and POWs there were on the plane. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that there were 65 Ukrainian POWs and three Russian soldiers accompanying them.

The agency added that “human remains” were found at the crash site.