Several Russian VIPs were supposed to be on board the IL-76, but the FSB turned them away – Yusov
Russian officials were supposed to be on board the IL-76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, but at the last minute the FSB forbade them to board.
Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, said this in a commentary to Radio Liberty.
He noted that Ukrainian intelligence learned about this after the plane crash.
– “There were indeed several VIPs on board from the military-political mission of the aggressor state. Their names are known and will be revealed, and the materials will be provided as part of an international investigation. But at the last moment, the FSB actually ordered them not to board the plane and to use other means of transportation. This information was already found out after the incident happened,” Yusov said.
He also said that Russian rescuers were not allowed to inspect the crash site.
– “Representatives of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations who arrived at the scene were actually driven out by representatives of the FSB and the military, and they were not allowed to inspect the site and localize the wreckage, according to the protocol,” Yusov said.
Yusov also says that the video from the crash site does not show the remains of human bodies. And only five bodies were delivered to the local morgue in Belgorod the day before.
– We know from intelligence sources that as of yesterday, only five bodies had been delivered to the Belgorod morgue. In fact, this number corresponds to the number of crew members of the same IL-76, an airplane that was part of the Russian Aerospace Forces,” he said.
What is known about the downing of the IL-76 in Russia
On January 24, a Russian military transport aircraft IL-76 crashed in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the plane was transporting missiles for the S-300 air defense system. As you know, the Russian Federation is massively attacking Kharkiv from the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.
According to Russian media, there were allegedly 65 prisoners, three people accompanying them, and six crew members on board the IL-76.
The DIU confirmed that a prisoner exchange with Russia was to take place on January 24 and noted that the information provided by the Russian side about the military on board was being verified.
On January 25, criminal proceedings were opened over the crash of an IL-76 military transport plane over the Belgorod region.
