[Mail link along with NYP Story] A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane crashed near the Ukrainian border on Wednesday, and state news agency RIA quoted the defense ministry as saying it was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war to be exchanged for Russian captives.
The plane was carrying 74 people, including six crew and three guards when it crashed, RIA cited the defense ministry as saying.
There was no immediate information on the cause.
Andrei Kartapolov, a lawmaker in Russia’s parliament and a retired general, said during a parliamentary session that the plane had been shot down by three missiles.
He did not say what the source of his information was.
Reuters could not immediately verify details of who was on board, but Russia and Ukraine regularly swap prisoners of war.
Ukraine’s defense ministry and air force did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Radio reports Ukes say it was transporting weapons, not POWs |