Peskov Refuses To Comment On Ilyushin Il-76 Crash Near Belgorod

• 24.01.2024, 14:09

Kremlin spokesman could not confirm information about 'Ukrainian prisoners'.

A Russian air force Il-76 military transport plane crashed in the Belgorod region of Russia on 24 January.

The Il-76 military aircraft crashed 5-6 kilometres from the village of Yablonevo in the Korochansky district of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. This is 86 kilometres from the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.

Russian media claimed that the Il-76 was allegedly carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war who were being transported to the Belgorod region for exchange.

Later, propagandists quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying that a total of 74 people were on board. These included 65 captured AFU soldiers, six crew members and three escorts.

As usual, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov failed to give a concrete and comprehensible answer. Asked whether Vladimir Putin had been informed of the Il-76 crash, he said he could not say anything because the information was fresh.

"This is quite new information. We are looking into it now. I can't say anything yet," Peskov replied.