Russia says it will hunt down and punish Ukrainians involved in shooting down Il-76 plane carrying prisoners

According to RT news agency, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported at 11:15 a.m. on January 24 (local time) that the Il-76 aircraft of the Russian Military Transport Aviation was transporting 65 soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to exchange prisoners of war according to a previous agreement.

However, the attack by two shells from the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile system killed all those servicemen, along with six crew members and three Russian officers. The Il-76 was shot down near the village of Yablonovo, Korochansky district, Belgorod region.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the attack on the plane was deliberate and conscious. "The terrorist attack clearly demonstrates the inability of the Kiev authorities to negotiate," the ministry stressed.

"This is another atrocity by the Kiev authorities. Immediately after the plane crash, they declared 'victory' and attributed it to the brave work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, as soon as they learned that Ukrainian servicemen were on their way to the exchange site, Kiev's rhetoric began to change. They began to deny their involvement in the disaster," Russian diplomats stressed.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Kiev knew “very well” that the transfer of prisoners for the exchange would be carried out by plane to Belgorod airport. The exchange was scheduled for the afternoon of January 24 at the Kolotilovka checkpoint.

According to RT, Moscow strongly condemns Kiev's terrorist act in the Belgorod region. All those involved in the "crime" will be traced and punished according to Russian law.

The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that international organizations, national governments and the world community should condemn the terrorist attack and other crimes committed by the Kiev authorities. "Silence would be tantamount to supporting the barbarism and terrorist habits of this regime," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.