Russia has not informed Ukraine how it will deliver prisoners: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on the crash of IL-76 and exchange

The Russian side did not inform Ukraine of the need to ensure the security of the airspace near the city of Belgorod during a certain period of time, as it had done repeatedly in the past during prisoner exchanges.

The statement was released by the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate after the crash of a Russian Il-76 transport plane allegedly carrying Ukrainian prisoners.

Prisoner exchange today

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that the exchange of prisoners was supposed to take place today, but it did not take place. Russia claims that this was due to the downing of a Russian Il-76 aircraft that was allegedly transporting Ukrainian prisoners. However, the intelligence community does not have accurate information on who was on board the plane and how many people.

– Ukraine has fulfilled all the agreements to prepare the exchange. Russian military prisoners were delivered on time to the agreed point for the exchange, where they were safe,” the statement said.

“The security of the Ukrainian military was to be ensured by the Russian side, according to the agreements.

However, Russia did not warn the Ukrainian side about the need to ensure the security of the airspace in the area of Belgorod during a certain period of time, as it had done repeatedly during previous prisoner exchanges.

The Ukrainian side was not informed about the number of vehicles, routes and forms of delivery of prisoners.

It is known that prisoners are delivered by air, rail and road. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine claims that this is evidence of Russia’s deliberate actions aimed at endangering the lives and safety of prisoners.

– “The landing of a transport aircraft in a 30-km combat zone cannot be safe and must be discussed by both sides, otherwise it jeopardizes the entire exchange process,” the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine emphasizes.

Ukrainian intelligence believes that this may be a planned and deliberate action by Russia to destabilize the situation and weaken international support for Ukraine.

The fall of the IL-76: all that is known

On the afternoon of January 24, it became known that a Russian military transport aircraft IL-76 crashed in the Korocha district of Belgorod region.

According to the Russian side, it was allegedly transporting Ukrainian prisoners. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has not yet been able to deny or confirm the information about who was on board the IL-76.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the information about the fall of the IL-76. They claim that it was transporting missiles for S-300 air defense systems, which have recently been attacking Kharkiv from the Belgorod region.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the increase in the intensity of shelling is due to the growing number of military transport aircraft heading to the Belgorod airfield.

The General Staff claims that the Armed Forces will continue to take measures to destroy the means of delivery and the terrorist threat in the Belgorod-Kharkiv direction.