Ukrainian intelligence on Il-76 crash: Situation remains unclear
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The situation with the crash of the Russian military transport aircraft IL-76 remains unclear, states Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine.
"Unfortunately, we need to state that neither side can fully answer what happened there," Budanov said.
According to the head of the DIU, Russia, understandably, has taken the position of blaming Ukraine for everything, even though some facts are incomprehensible for such a position.
"First of all, they did not show the fields covered with corpses and remains, as they should have done to blame Ukraine as much as possible, but even this is not available. That is, the situation remains unclear," Budanov explained.
He added that if it happened as Russia claims, then it is unclear why Russia has been hiding the bodies for several days and continues to hide them.
"It should have shown it to the whole world. But there are no corpses, there is nothing," the head of the DIU emphasized.
Crash of the Russian Il-76 aircraft
On January 24, a Russian military transport aircraft IL-76 crashed in the Korocha district of Belgorod region.
According to RBC-Ukraine's sources, the aircraft was carrying missiles for the S-300 air defense system. At the same time, Russia claims that the plane was carrying 65 prisoners, 6 crew members, and 3 escorts.
Later, Defence Intelligence confirmed that the exchange of prisoners of war was to take place on January 24.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the enemy was playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners and called for an international investigation.
According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, there are no signs to indicate that there could have been dozens of people on board the Il-76, as Russia claims.
