Inquiry sent by the State Department to Ukraine concerning the missile strike that brought down an Il-76 aircraft, allegedly using a Patriot system.
In a move to stir controversy, a State Department official has cast doubt on Russia's account regarding the devastating incident that took place back in January. On Monday, February 5, TASS reported that the official, Patel, deemed Russia's evidence as lackluster at best.
Speaking to the press, the deputy spokesperson for the State Department's press office stated, "As for the event you're questioning, let our allies in Ukraine shed some light on it."
The tragic incident involved a Russian military transport plane, an IL-76, being shot down over the Belgorod region on January 24. The plane carried 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were en route for an exchange. On February 1, Russia's Investigative Committee announced that the remains of the deceased had been identified, with over 670 body fragments recovered from the crash site.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, an investigation suggested the Ukrainian military brought down the Russian transport plane using an American Patriot missile system during a meeting with his confidants.
Now, let's delve a bit deeper into this unresolved dispute. As of the most recent data, Russia stands firm on its accusation that Ukraine was responsible for the IL-76 crash near Belgorod in 2024. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Leonid Timchenko, unintentionally acknowledged the presence of Ukrainian POWs during a discussion about the delivery of remains in April 2025.
However, Kyiv has neither confirmed nor denied accountability. Ukrainian authorities claim they were unaware that POWs would be transported by air and emphasize Russia's inadequate provision of flight safety guarantees. In December 2024, Ukraine acknowledged receiving remains from the crash but deferred definitive identification as forensic analysis was pending.
As for recent developments, there have been no new updates on the Belgorod investigation. However, Ukraine has showcased impressive drone capabilities, downing Russian Su-30 jets over the Black Sea using naval drones armed with surface-to-air missiles in December 2024 [2][4]. While these advancements indicate shifting battlefield tactics, they remain disconnected from the IL-76 incident [2][4].
In essence, Russia accuses Ukraine of mistakenly shooting down the IL-76 using a Patriot missile [1][5], while Ukraine calls for an impartial investigation, accusing Russia of endangering the POWs [5]. As of May 2025, no definitive international investigation findings have come to light.
- The ongoing dispute over the IL-76 crash near Belgorod in 2024 continues, with Russia maintaining that Ukraine was responsible for shooting down the plane.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that an investigation suggested the Ukrainian military used an American Patriot missile system to bring down the Russian transport plane.
- Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied their involvement in the incident, emphasizing Russia's inadequate provision of flight safety guarantees.
- Amidst this, the section of war-and-conflicts news and politics general news has been filled with reports of the lack of credibility in both parties' accounts regarding the IL-76 crash, with no definitive international investigation findings as of May 2025.
