At least 65 people have been killed after a Russian Ilyushin-76 military transport plane crashed in southern Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, on Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Wedne
Russian news agency Ria Novosti said those on board included Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to be exchanged in a swap.
Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that an unspecified “incident” had occurred in the region’s Korochansky district, northeast of Belgorod city and that he was going to inspect the site, Reuters reported.
He said investigators and emergency workers were already on the scene.
A video shared on the Telegram messenger app a channel linked to Russian security services, showed a large aircraft falling towards the ground and exploding in a fireball.
RIA cited the defence ministry as saying that the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, alongside six crew members and three other people, when it crashed.
There was no immediate information on the cause.
The Il-76 is a military transport aircraft designed to airlift troops, cargo, military equipment and weapons. It has a normal crew of five people and can carry up to 90 passengers.
Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, has come under frequent attacks from Ukraine in recent months, including a December missile strike which killed 25 people.
