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Plane carrying Ukrainian POWs was shot down by Patriot – Putin Plane carrying Ukrainian POWs was shot down by Patriot – Putin
(about 11 hours later)
The Russian president has said he does not understand why Kiev would attack an aircraft carrying its own servicemenThe Russian president has said he does not understand why Kiev would attack an aircraft carrying its own servicemen
Kiev’s forces used an air defense system supplied by Washington to attack a Russian aircraft carrying Ukrainian POWs for a pre-scheduled swap, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. The attack, which took place last week, led to the deaths of 65 Ukrainians onboard, as well as the plane’s crew and three Russian military personnel. Kiev’s forces used an air defense system supplied by Washington to attack a Russian aircraft carrying Ukrainian POWs for a pre-scheduled swap, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
“The plane was downed ... by a US-made Patriot system,” Putin revealed, calling it a “well established” fact that had been confirmed by a relevant expert review. Russian emergency services had previously suggested that fragments of one or more missiles were found at the aircraft crash site. The attack, which took place last week, led to the deaths of 65 Ukrainians on board, as well as the plane’s crew and three Russian military personnel.
Russian investigators have not officially commented on the results of the ongoing probe into the incident. Sources close to the investigation told TASS that an analysis of the plane’s black boxes showed that it was intentionally shot down. Later, one source also told the news agency that it was “highly probable” that a US-supplied Patriot surface-to-air missile system was used in the attack. “The plane was downed... by a US-made Patriot system,” Putin said, calling it a “well established” fact that had been confirmed by an expert review. Russian emergency services had previously stated that fragments of one or more missiles had been found at the crash site.
Last week, a French military source told the nation’s state broadcaster Radio France that Kiev’s forces used a Patriot missile to down the plane. The Russian Defense Ministry accused the Ukrainian military of being behind the attack soon after the incident, adding that Kiev was well aware of the fact that the aircraft was carrying Ukrainian captives. Investigators have not officially commented on the results of the ongoing probe into the incident. However sources close to the investigation told TASS that an analysis of the plane’s black box data showed that it had been intentionally shot down. A source also told the news agency that it was “highly probable” that a US-supplied Patriot surface-to-air missile system was used in the attack.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday disputed Moscow’s claim and called for an international probe into the incident. On Wednesday, Putin also said that Russia would seek an international investigation into the downed aircraft. Last week, a French military source told the nation’s state broadcaster Radio France that Kiev’s forces used a Patriot missile to down the plane. The Russian Defense Ministry accused the Ukrainian military of being behind the attack soon after the incident, adding that Kiev was well aware of the fact that the aircraft was carrying Ukrainian POWs.
“I state this officially: We ask for international experts to be deployed [here] to conduct an analysis, assess the existing material evidence of the fact that the plane was downed by the Patriot system,” he insisted. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday disputed Moscow’s version and called for an international probe into the incident. On Wednesday, Putin also said that Russia would call for an international investigation into the downed aircraft.
The Russian leader also said he did not understand why the Ukrainian military would even do something like this. “I do not know. I do not understand [it],” he commented, when asked about his take on the issue, adding that “one can assume they did it by accident.” The move constitutes a “crime in any case,” the Russian president maintained, adding that it would then be classified as murder by negligence. “I state this officially: We ask for international experts to be deployed [here] to conduct an analysis, assess the existing material evidence of the fact that the plane was downed by the Patriot system,” he stated.
According to Putin, the attack might have also been a provocation aimed at prompting some sort of response from Russia. Moscow would not stop POW exchanges with Kiev, he clarified, arguing that Russia wants its “guys back” and would try to bring them home as long as Ukraine agrees to such swaps. The Russian president added that he does not understand why the Ukrainian military would do something like this, saying, “one can assume they did it by accident,” though it constitutes a “crime in any case.”
According to Putin, the attack could have been a provocation aimed at prompting a response from Russia. However, Moscow will not stop the POW exchanges with Kiev, he said, as Russia wants to bring its own soldiers back home.