The Il-76 plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war was shot down near Belgorod by the Patriot system used by the Ukrainian forces. This is shown by the data from the expertise of the Investigative Committee, which investigated the incident, TASS reported.
The committee also has information on which units of the Ukrainian armed forces are armed with "Patriot" missile systems. The investigative committee establishes the identity of those involved in organizing the attack on the IL-76.
We remind you that the Russian Il-76 military plane crashed near Belgorod in January 2024. The crew, as well as the Ukrainian prisoners of war carried on board, died. Russia called the incident a "terrorist act" and blamed Ukraine. Kyiv demanded an international investigation into the incident. However, Moscow did not agree to this.
Russia did not rule out the possibility that close allies of Ukraine were involved in the downing of the Samoel. According to the Kremlin, the missile that downed the IL-76 was fired from the Kharkiv region.
A little later, Putin announced that the plane had been hit with the Patriot system. Authorities in Moscow said they had evidence that Kiev was behind the attack. The New York Times also published that the "Patriot" shot down the IL-76.
Russia also noted that it had identified the Ukrainian military who ordered the strike.
Russia continues to insist that there were prisoners of war on board the plane, which it transported for another agreed exchange with the Ukrainian negotiating humanitarian group. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov expressed doubt that there were prisoners of war on board the plane.