Kyiv Knew About the Transfer of Prisoners, Says MP Kartapolov on IL-76 Downing

The Russian IL-76 aircraft, which was carrying captured soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces, was shot down by three missiles from the Patriot system (located in the Kharkiv region) or IRIS-T. This information was disclosed by the Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma, Andrei Kartapolov.

He added that another IL-76 aircraft, which held 80 Ukrainian prisoners of war, turned back in the Belgorod region after the downing of the plane to save human lives.

The Russian MP believes that the Ukrainian armed forces intentionally targeted the aircraft transporting Ukrainian prisoners of war. “This is certainly intentional; they very well knew that the aircraft was flying, they knew where it was. The operators of the missile system cannot confuse the lighting of a transport aircraft with that of a combat aircraft. Everything is clear; it was a large aircraft flying without escort. They had been informed in advance,” he stated.

According to some reports, the exchange of prisoners, with 192 in exchange for 192, was supposed to take place today at the border of the Belgorod region. Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that the Ukrainian armed forces had carried out the strike, but after it was confirmed that Ukrainian prisoners were aboard the aircraft intended for exchange, those publications began to be removed from reports.