Uncertainty Surrounds Crash Involving Ukrainian Prisoners of War: In a devastating incident, a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane crashed in close proximity to the Ukrainian border on Wednesday. The defense ministry, as reported by state news agency RIA, revealed that the aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, slated for exchange in return for Russian captives.

The ill-fated plane, with a total of 74 individuals on board, including six crew members and three guards, crashed without immediate information on the cause, according to the defense ministry's statement cited by RIA.

During a parliamentary session, Andrei Kartapolov, a lawmaker in Russia's parliament and a retired general, claimed that the plane was downed by three missiles. However, the source of his information remains undisclosed, and Reuters could not independently verify the details of the passengers. Notably, Russia and Ukraine engage in regular exchanges of prisoners of war.

Video footage posted on the Telegram messenger app by Baza, a channel linked to Russian security services and verified by Reuters, depicted the large aircraft plummeting near the village of Yablonovo in the Belgorod region, followed by a massive explosion.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the local governor, reported an unspecified "incident" in the Korochansky district, northeast of Belgorod city. He mentioned plans to inspect the site and confirmed the presence of investigators and emergency workers at the scene.

The Ilyushin Il-76, designed for military transport purposes, typically carries troops, cargo, military equipment, and weapons. With a usual crew of five, it has the capacity to transport up to 90 passengers.

In response to inquiries from reporters, the Kremlin stated that it is actively investigating the situation. The Belgorod region, which shares a border with Ukraine, has experienced frequent attacks in recent months, including a December missile strike that claimed the lives of 25 people.

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