An Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed in Russia’s Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border on Wednesday, according to multiple Telegram channels. The incident reportedly occurred in the region’s Korochansky District. According to the channel 112, there were 63 people on board, all of whom were killed in the crash.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the plane was transporting 65 Ukrainian POWs to the Belgorod region for a prisoner exchange, as well as six crew members and three escorts, according to state media.
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov acknowledged an “event in the Korochansky District” in a Telegram post, writing:
An investigation team and first responders are working at the scene right now. I’ve rearranged my work schedule and headed to the area. All details to come.
The newspaper Ukrainska Pravda, citing a source from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that the crash was “the work” of Ukraine’s military. According to the source, the aircraft was transporting S-300 missiles.
An hour before the plane crash was first reported, the Belgorod authorities issued an alert warning residents of a possible incoming missile. Approximately 30 minutes later (11:43 a.m. Moscow time), the governor cancelled the alert.
This is a developing story.