Ukraine Confirms POWs Killed in Downing of Russian Il-76 Plane
On January 24, 2024, a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed near Yablonovo in Russia's Belgorod Region, close to the Ukrainian border. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 74 individuals on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), six crew members, and three Russian guards.
Russia asserted that the plane was shot down by Ukrainian forces while en route to a scheduled prisoner exchange.Ukrainian officials initially did not confirm the presence of POWs on the aircraft and suggested that the plane might have been transporting military equipment, making it a legitimate target.
Leonid Timchenko, Ukraine’s Deputy Interior Minister, acknowledged in an interview with Censor.net that DNA results confirmed the presence of Ukrainian POWs among the victims.
“Remember the situation with the downed IL-76, which had about 60 prisoners of war on board? Over 500 body parts were returned,” Timchenko said.“We are dealing with the remains of multiple individuals — it’s our job to identify them piece by piece.”
The comments follow months of Kiev avoiding direct confirmation, though Ukrainian media and officials had previously acknowledged the planned exchange and claimed lack of knowledge about the plane’s passengers.
Downing Raises Unresolved Questions
The Il-76 crash occurred near the village of Yablonovo, on January 24, 2024. Russia stated the aircraft was transporting:
65 Ukrainian POWs
6 crew members
3 Russian military guards
At the time, President Vladimir Putin said he believed the incident may have been a mistake, asking why Ukraine would target its own troops.
Ukrainian authorities, while not denying the strike, claimed the aircraft could have been transporting missiles, and insisted the shoot-down was a legitimate military act.
US Intelligence Points to Ukrainian Missiles
A February 2024 report by the New York Times cited U.S. officials as saying the Il-76 was likely brought down by a Patriot missile system operated by Ukrainian forces. Russia’s Defense Ministry similarly reported detecting two missile launches shortly before the crash.
The incident became a diplomatic flashpoint, casting doubt on Ukraine’s command coordination and risk assessmentsduring high-stakes operations like prisoner swaps.
Return of Remains Confirms Moscow’s Claims
Following months of forensic work, Ukraine has now begun receiving and identifying the remains of those killed, with most matching the DNA of families of captured Ukrainian soldiers.
The admission not only validates Russia’s initial reports but also underscores the catastrophic consequences of communication failures amid ongoing conflict.