MOSCOW/KYIV – A senior Russian lawmaker says Ukrainian military intelligence was warned 15 minutes before a Russian military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war entered the area where it was shot down on Wednesday.
Russia accused Ukraine of shooting down the plane, killing all 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian soldiers who were captured en route to be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war.
Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied the Russian allegations, but has demanded an international investigation.
“The Ukrainian side was officially warned, and 15 minutes before the plane entered the zone they were given complete information, which they received and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the receipt,” Andrei Kartapolov told fellow lawmakers, according to the report. the ruling United Russia party.
“We all know exactly what happens next,” added Kartapolov, a former general with close ties to the defense ministry who now heads the Russian parliament’s defense committee.
His claim directly contradicts Ukrainian military intelligence’s statement that Russia did not inform him of the flight arrangements.
Russia claims Ukraine had notice before it was shot down. airplane with prisoners of war. AP
Conflicting narratives from both sides are a daily feature of the war which is now nearing the end of its second year. But the stakes are high with Wednesday’s incident, the deadliest of its kind on Russia’s own internationally recognized territory.
Moscow has framed the downing of the Ilyushin-76 troop transport plane in Russia’s southwestern Belgorod region, near the border with Ukraine, as a “terrorist act” by Ukraine.
INVESTIGATION
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that greater clarity was needed about what happened, especially about who was on board, and he accused Russia of “playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners”.
He called for an international investigation, a plea echoed on Thursday by Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.
“Regarding the international investigation, I believe we will do our part to make it happen. But I am sure that… the Russian side will make a loud statement but will not let anyone in. They will not submit any material for analysis and will only blame Ukraine,” Lubinets told national television.
Zelensky called for an international investigation, a plea echoed on Thursday by Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. AP
Russia has sole access to the crash site, where TV pictures show debris scattered over a snowy field.
Its state news agency TASS said the plane’s black box had been found and would be flown to Moscow for examination at a defense ministry laboratory.
Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency confirmed on Wednesday that the PoW exchange would take place, but said it had not been told how Russia would bring the detainees to the surrender site.
It also said Ukraine was not asked to ensure the security of the airspace around Belgorod – unlike previous arrangements for exchanges.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet at 2200 GMT on Thursday in response to Russia’s call for a meeting to determine “the reasons behind Ukraine’s criminal acts”.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
