Enlarge image
Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin
Photo:
SPUTNIK / REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the Ukrainian army for the crash of a Russian military plane in the border region of Belgorod this week. "I don't know whether they did it intentionally or accidentally, but it is obvious that they did it," said the Kremlin chief on Friday at a military college.
Putin further accused Ukrainian military intelligence of knowing that there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board the plane. "It's definitely a crime," he emphasized.
more on the subject
Plane crash near Ukrainian border: Russia releases names of allegedly killed crew
Before prisoner exchange: What is known and what is not known about the Russian plane crash By Alexander Kauschanski, Kiev
Putin also had theories ready for the question of what Ukraine was supposed to have used to shoot down the plane: According to preliminary findings, the Ilyushin was shot down either by the US Patriot system or by a European system - "most likely a French one," Putin said. After examining the rocket remains, there will be a clear answer in a few days as to which system was used to fire.
Putin categorically rejected the idea that the Russian armed forces might have shot down their own plane. "Our anti-aircraft systems fundamentally cannot carry out a strike against our own aircraft," he emphasized. In fact, the anti-aircraft missiles hit just two or three minutes after takeoff.
According to information from Moscow, the transport plane crashed on Wednesday not far from the border with Ukraine after being hit by rockets. Accordingly, the plane with 65 Ukrainian soldiers on board was on the way to a prisoner exchange. According to Russian authorities, all 74 passengers died in the crash.
Ukraine confirmed that a prisoner exchange was planned. However, she was not informed that the soldiers would be transported to the border by plane. Both Kiev and Moscow launched criminal investigations to investigate the crash. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj also called for an international investigation.
mfh/sol/AFP