Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed missiles fired from Ukraine for the military plane crash that purportedly killed 65 Ukrainian POWs, but Ukraine questioned Russia’s evidence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday claimed that a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war was shot down by Ukraine. But Ukrainian officials say there’s no evidence to support Russia’s story.
The Russian Defense Ministry said a plane transporting 65 Ukrainian POWs crashed in the Belgorod region near Ukraine on Wednesday. Six crew members and three Russian servicemen were also on the flight, according to the ministry.
“Knowing (the POWs were aboard), they attacked this plane. I don’t know whether they did it on purpose or by mistake, through thoughtlessness,” Putin said of Ukraine at a meeting with students in St. Petersburg. He did not provide further details to support the allegation.
It wasn’t until Friday that Russia provided the Ukrainian agency that deals with prisoner exchanges a list of the POWs Moscow said died in the crash.
