Moscow Passes Strange List Of IL-76 Passengers To Ukraine With Delay

Relatives of Ukrainian prisoners did not find any signs pointing to their loved ones.

Russia responded with great delay to repeated requests regarding the Il-76 passenger list and referred to a list previously published by propagandists.

The Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters confirmed that 65 Ukrainian defenders from this list were to be exchanged on January 24.

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported this on Facebook.

Relatives of the military from the provided list got acquainted with video materials of Russian propagandists allegedly from the scene of the plane crash. They did not find any special signs among the fragments of bodies that would indicate their relatives.

Chairman of the Coordination Headquarters, Head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kirylo Budanov noted that there is currently no sufficient information confirming the presence of Ukrainian prisoners of war on board the plane. He also expressed doubts about the Russian propaganda version that the Il-76M aircraft could have transported 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.

“We collect and carefully analyze all available information on this matter from many sources. There is currently no information to indicate that there could have been so many people on that plane. At the same time, the Russian propaganda version that the said Il-76M could transport 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war for exchange still raises many questions,” the head of the Defense Intelligence emphasized.

In turn, First Deputy Chairman of the SSU Serhiy Andrushchenko noted that Russia’s actions indicate their attempt to silence the true causes of the plane crash in front of the world community.

“Russia immediately announced that it would not allow international experts to investigate the Il-76M crash. However, Ukraine will use all tools to find out the true reasons for what happened, as well as who or what was actually transported on that plane,” the SSU representative noted.

At the same time, he said, it takes more time to collect all the necessary information. Serhiy Andrushchenko emphasized that the Security Service of Ukraine provided all the necessary measures for a regime of silence at the exchange site.

Representatives of the Coordination Headquarters emphasized that the families of prisoners of war will be informed about the fate of their relatives when the authorized bodies have clear and reliable information. The Coordination Headquarters also emphasizes the need for a comprehensive and competent international investigation into this event and declares its readiness to do everything possible to establish the truth.

Important to note, on January 24, a Russian Il-76 plane crashed in the Belgorod region of Russia. The plane crash probably happened near the village of Krivoy. The wreckage of the plane was scattered over several kilometers. Russian propagandists said that 65 Ukrainian soldiers and 5 Russian crew members died on board.

Also on Wednesday, January 24, an exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine was planned. This was stated by representative of the Defense Intelligence Andriy Yusov. However, this exchange did not take place. The Defense Intelligence cannot yet confirm whether there were Ukrainian prisoners of war on board; this information is being verified.