A Russian military plane, which was carrying Ukrainian POWs, crashed on Wednesday, Jan. 24, as claimed by Kremlin officials.
The warplane that crashed was identified as an Ilyushin Il-76; a military transport aircraft that was designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin Design Bureau.
Technicians prepare Ilyushin Il-76TD long-haul cargo aircraft for the upcoming MAKS-2015, the International Aviation and Space Show, in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, on August 21, 2015. The MAKS-2015 will be held in Zhukovsky from August 25 to 30.
This Russian warplane usually has five crew members and can carry up to 90 passengers. It was designed specifically for airlifting cargo, weapons, military equipment, soldiers, as well as war prisoners.
The Il-76 is still an efficient aircraft since it is being used for emergencies. But, why did the Russian military plane crash?
Russian Military Plane Carrying Ukrainian POWs Crashes
The Russian state media, which cited the statements of the Defense Ministry, said that the Russian cargo warplane crashed in the Belgorod region, which is near the border with Ukraine.
According to Al Jazeera's latest report, the transport aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Unfortunately, all these POWs died in the plane crash.
The deaths of all Ukrainian POW passengers were confirmed by Belgorod Oblast Gov. Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Gladkov. As of writing, the main reason for the crash hasn't been identified yet, as reported by NBC News.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation said that the Ilyushin Il-76 was performing a scheduled flight when it crashed near the border with Ukraine.
"On board were 65 captured military personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces transported to the Belgorod region for exchange, as well as six crew members and three accompanying persons," said the Russian defense ministry.
As of press time, a team was already sent to the crash location to conduct investigations.
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Russian Military Plane Crash Details Remain Sketchy
Pro-Russian separatists look through the debris of an IL-76 transporter which was taken down by pro-Russian rebels early on June 14, on the outskirts of Lugansk June 14, 2014. Ukraine's new Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko vowed Saturday to deliver an "adequate response" to pro-Russian rebels who downed a military transport plane, killing 49 troops.
Since the main reason for the Russian military plane crash still remains a question, many experts speculate that the aircraft was either crashed intentionally by Russia or was taken down by Ukrainian forces.
In their speculation about Russia's role in the plane crash, they believe that the Kremlin is trying to reduce the Ukrainian prisoners of war in their hands.
Meanwhile, rumors about Ukraine's involvement are that the Russian aircraft was also carrying missiles or S-300 system components. Because of this, they believe that the aircraft was a legitimate target in Ukrainian terms.
But, all these will remain speculations until Ukraine and Russia share other announcements regarding the incident.
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