Russian plane, former Azov reveals: “Someone cheated”. Guns or prisoners, what do we know

What was behind the downing of the Il-76 plane in Belgorod, on Russian territory? The cross-accusations of Moscow and Kiev do not contribute to clarifying the issue, in the information and propaganda war that overlaps the conflict on the ground. An analysis by Repubblica takes stock of possible reconstructions of the accident. As is known, Kiev claims that the flight contained a shipment of missiles, while Moscow insists that the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war home after an exchange. “Kiev’s military intelligence accuses Moscow of not agreeing to the safe flight, as it has always done in the past, voluntarily endangering its prisoners. The Russians claim the opposite,” the article says.

Only the Russians are investigating the matter, as they have not yet released any evidence other than a video showing Ukrainian prisoners of war boarding a plane, but the images cannot be dated. If this version were proven, however, it would be a problem for Zelensky and there would also be repercussions in the upcoming negotiations to release the hostages. “But the reconstruction that takes place is that of an error induced on the part of Kiev, in which Moscow immediately played the role of exploitation”, writes the newspaper.

Flights carrying prisoners are obviously the subject of cross-communication between the military authorities of the two countries, but this time something went wrong. The thesis of Igor Moseichuk, a Ukrainian investigative journalist who is also among the founders of Azov, is reported. He claims that Kiev was looking for flights with which the Russians would transport weapons and equipment beyond the Belgorod area and that they had a tip about the IL-76 with a load of missiles on board. But “someone betrayed us and warned them that Ukrainian forces were ready to shoot down the flight. At that point, they brought our prisoners on board instead of weapons,” says Moisechuk.

Source: IL Tempo

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