Ukraine investigates Russia’s claims about POWs on board of crashed Il-76 plane

Several Russian media outlets, following the crash of a Russian Il-76 aircraft in the Belgorod Oblast, Russian, disseminated statements made by the head of the State Duma Committee on Defense, Andrey Kartapolov. He claimed that dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war were allegedly on board the plane, being transported for an exchange. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets responded to these claims.

Rubryka reports, citing the Russian ВВС service, Russian Telegram channels, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, and the Coordination Headquarters for Dealing with Prisoners of War.

Initially, it became known that a Russian military Il-76 aircraft crashed after takeoff in the Belgorod Oblast. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced that the transport plane had crashed and fallen in a field not far from the settlement in the Korochansky district of the region. All those on board did not survive.

According to him, the crash site is currently cordoned off. "All emergency services are at the scene, and investigative measures are being carried out. A commission is being sent to the scene to determine the causes of the crash," said Gladkov.

Afterward, pro-Russian Russian media almost simultaneously spread the statement by Kartapolov that the plane was allegedly carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Moreover, the aircraft was supposedly "shot down by three Patriot or IRIS-T missiles."

This statement was voiced by the Russian official during a State Duma meeting. However, he did not specify the source of his information. He also claimed that the prisoners of war were allegedly transported on two planes, so another Il-76 with 80 prisoners on board allegedly managed to turn around after the first plane crashed in the Belgorod Oblast.

Kartapolov also asserted that the parties were preparing an exchange in the "192 for 192" format. However, now, according to him, exchanges of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine will "probably be put on hold."

"Today, an exchange of 192 for 192 was supposed to take place. Here is the first (plane) carrying 65 people, the second – others," Kartapolov noted.

Later, Lubinets and the Coordination Headquarters for Dealing with Prisoners of War published statements on Telegram saying that they were verifying this information.

"At the moment, as the Human Rights Commissioner, I am clarifying all the details of the event and analyzing the information received. I call on representatives of the media and citizens of Ukraine not to draw premature conclusions and to trust only official sources," said the Ukrainian Ombudsman. "I also ask not to spread unreliable information. The enemy is cunning. And we all know what terrible methods the Russian Federation can use to destabilize Ukrainian society. Do not fall for provocations." 

He promised to provide more detailed information later.

Also, the Coordination Headquarters reported that they and other relevant structures are collecting and analyzing all the necessary information.

"Before official statements or comments by authorized persons or authorities are released, we urge the media and citizens to refrain from spreading unverified information. We emphasize that the enemy is actively conducting special information operations against Ukraine, aimed at destabilizing Ukrainian society," they said.