IL-76 plane crashes in Belgorod region of Russia: 63 people killed (photos, video)
An IL-76 plane crashed in the Korocha district of Belgorod region, the governor reported an "accident", an investigation team and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are working at the scene. Local media reports that an IL-76 had previously crashed.
This was reported by local public media, the governor of the Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov.
"The incident happened in the Korocha district. An investigative team and Emergencies Ministry employees are now working at the scene. I changed my work schedule and went to the district. All the details will come later," Gladkov said.
Ukrainian experts claim that the photos from the crash site refute the Russian fake news and can serve as confirmation that the IL-76 was not carrying prisoners, but missiles for the S-300.
Initially, Russian media stated that there were 63 people on board. According to preliminary data, all of them died.
Later, the propagandists changed the data on the number of people on board: according to new information, there were 75 people on the plane, including five crew members.
The crash site of the IL-76 near Belgorod was surrounded by Russian soldiers. Eyewitnesses claim that the wreckage of the plane flew several kilometers.
Shortly before the first reports of the downing of the military transporter appeared, the same Gladkov warned of a "missile threat" in the Belgorod region.
Ukrainian monitoring channels refute the version about dozens of people on board and the fake news about the plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners, first spread by Russian propagandists and then by the Russian Defense Ministry.
"The information about 63 people is a Russian fake, followed by a PSYOPS about alleged Ukrainian prisoners on board. The IL-76 was carrying missiles for the S-300 and was shot down by a missile," the Monitor channel said.
Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko drew attention to the fact that the first photos from the crash site show no trace of the bodies of the dozens of people who were allegedly on board.
"It is noteworthy that there are no signs of scattered bodies on the field. Let me remind you that immediately after the crash of the IL-76, the Russian Defense Ministry launched a fake that the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners for exchange, although prisoners are not transported by air! Moreover, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, there were only 3 (!!!) escorts for 65 prisoners! Together with the crew, there were 74 people on board, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, but not a single body on the field," Kovalenko said.
Kovalenko himself is inclined to believe that the IL-76 was transporting anti-aircraft guided missiles for the S-300, which Russia is using to hit Kharkiv from the territory of the Belgorod region. This was reported by several Ukrainian sources
"This version is confirmed by the fact that nothing remained of the plane after the crash, and parts of its fuselage were scattered across the field, meaning that after the crash and impact with the ground, there was a powerful detonation of the ammunition," the expert emphasized. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented.
The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has already commented on the incident: "Today, on January 24, a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine was supposed to take place," said Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, in a commentary to Radio Liberty.
"But I can state that the exchange planned for today is not taking place," he added. According to the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the information voiced by the Russian side that the prisoners of war could have been in the IL-76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region is currently being checked.
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