STORY: Russia says aircraft carrying Ukrainian prisoners shot down by Ukraine
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 24, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:10
LOCATION: Moscow/Kiev
CATEGORY: OTHERS

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP (English): MENG JING, Xinhua correspondent
2. various of the site

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): MENG JING, Xinhua correspondent
"We are here in Yablonovo in Russia's Belgorod region. Earlier on Wednesday, a Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft crashed here not far behind me. At the moment, the crash site is still under police control."

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed Wednesday that Ukraine launched two missiles at the Il-76 military transport aircraft, killing all 74 people on board.

According to the statement, the aircraft was hit on its way from the Chkalovsky airfield to Belgorod while it was transporting Ukrainian military personnel for a prisoner exchange.

The Defense Ministry said Ukraine knew its prisoners would be transported to Belgorod for an exchange based on an agreement previously reached between the two sides.

It said Kiev's move was an attempt to blame Russia for the deaths of the Ukrainian military personnel on board.

Meanwhile, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence, said on Wednesday that the Ukrainian side is checking reports that Ukrainian captives were onboard the Il-76 plane.

He also said that the prisoner exchange with Russia had been canceled.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Moscow/Kiev.
(XHTV)