Russian foreign minister demands urgent UN Security Council meeting over downed Il-76 aircraft

Russia has demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the crash in Belgorod Oblast of a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft that Russia claims was transporting Ukrainian prisoners of war for an exchange.

Source: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press conference in New York on 24 January 

Quote: "Instead of this exchange taking place, the Ukrainian side launched anti-aircraft missiles at the aircraft from Kharkiv Oblast, which proved fatal.

We have requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council at 15:00 New York time."

Details: Lavrov claimed that the circumstances are still being established, also suggesting that the Ukrainian side at the UN Security Council "could explain how it all happened".

The Ukrainian authorities have no information that there were any Ukrainian servicemen on board the Il-76 that crashed in Russia’s oblast bordering Ukraine, although the exchange was indeed expected on 24 January.

Background:

• On the afternoon of 24 January, an Іl-76 military aircraft crashed in Belgorod Oblast, Russia. According to Ukrainska Pravda sources in Ukraine’s General Staff, the plane was carrying S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Russia’s Ministry of Defence, however, claimed that the plane had been flying from the Chkalovsky Air Base in Moscow Oblast to Belgorod to transport Ukrainian servicemen for a prisoner exchange.
• According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the "launch of two Ukrainian missiles" was recorded, and the disaster killed everyone on board: 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, three Russian servicemen accompanying them, and six crew members.
• Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan published a list of the Ukrainian prisoners of war who she alleges were on board the Il-76.
• Ukraine's Defence Intelligence confirmed that the exchange scheduled for 24 January did not take place but had no information as to whether Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board the aircraft. They noted that Ukraine had not been informed of the need to ensure the flight's safety, which could indicate that Russia intentionally jeopardised the prisoners’ lives and safety.
• The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces stated, without mentioning the Il-76, that they were taking all necessary precautions to protect Ukraine and Ukrainians, as Russian attacks have intensified due to the increased number of military transport aircraft in Belgorod.

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