In a tragic incident near the village of Yablonovo in the Belgorod region, a plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashed on the morning of January 24. The ill-fated aircraft, an Il-76, also had three escorts and six crew members on board. According to reports, at least 12 representatives of the “Azov” battalion, an organization banned in Russia, were among the passengers.
Preliminary information suggests that some of the passengers had already lost their lives prior to the plane’s descent, due to a direct hit from an RAS-2 missile. It is alleged that the missile struck the cargo deck area, where the Ukrainian prisoners of war were located.
Adding to the tragedy, a resident of Yablonovo revealed that she heard two explosions just moments before the crash. This unsettling detail raises further questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Regrettably, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov later confirmed that no survivors were found. Currently, law enforcement agencies and emergency services are working at the scene to ascertain the details and causes of this devastating event.
Previously, footage of the Il-76 plane crash in the Belgorod region emerged online, capturing the horrifying moment of impact. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region and highlights the dangers faced during prisoner exchanges in times of conflict.
As investigations continue, the international community mourns the loss of lives and hopes for a thorough examination of the incident to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
