Plane Carrying 65 Ukrainian Prisoners Crashes in Russian Belgorod Region”
The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported a devastating incident involving the crash of an Il-76 military transport aircraft in the Belgorod region, with 65 captured Ukrainian military personnel and nine Russians on board.
The aircraft was on a scheduled flight when it crashed at approximately 11:00 Moscow time on January 24. Among the passengers were 65 captured military personnel from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, being transported to the Belgorod region for exchange. The tragic incident also claimed the lives of six crew members and three accompanying persons.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has dispatched a commission from the Aerospace Forces (VKS) to the crash site to investigate the causes of the disaster.
The Il-76 military transport aircraft, designed for landing and transporting personnel, cargo, and military equipment, is equipped to carry 126 paratroopers with parachutes, 145 personnel in a single-deck version, and 225 in a double-deck version. With a maximum payload of 48 tons, the aircraft has a flight range of 4750 km with a load of 40 tons. The crew capacity is up to 7 people.
