Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is demanding an independent international investigation into Wednesday’s plane crash in Jablonovo near Russian Belgorod on Wednesday morning.
– All facts must be verified, to the greatest extent possible, given that the aircraft crashed on Russian territory beyond our control, Zelenskyy says in his evening speech.
Russia claims 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war to be exchanged were on board the plane, as well as six crew members and three other passengers. All perished, according to Russia, whose claim of prisoners of war on board could not be verified.
Ukraine has confirmed that a prisoner exchange would take place on Wednesday, but according to a statement from the country’s security service, there is no reliable information on whether any prisoners were on the plane.
– It is clear that the Russians are playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners, with the feelings of their relatives and with the emotional life of our society, Zelenskyy says, emphasizing that Ukrainian security services are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Russia accuses Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed at a press conference at the UN in New York that Ukraine shot down the plane, which was not confirmed by Ukraine.
Media reports initially claimed that the plane was shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, but those reports were later retracted and denied.
Meeting in the UN Security Council
Due to the crash, Lavrov has demanded an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council, which will now meet on Thursday evening.
“Hectic Russian propaganda directs a false information flow to an external audience, in an attempt to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community,” writes Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshtyuk on social media.
“The goal is obvious, they want to reduce international support for our state,” he continues.