A senior Russian legislator reported that Ukrainian military intelligence received 15 minutes notice in front of a Russian military aircraft carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war will enter the area where he was shot down on Wednesday.

Russia accuses Ukraine of shoot down a plane, killing all 74 people those on board, including 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers who were to be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war. Ukraine neither confirmed nor denied Russia’s claims, but demanded an international investigation.

“The Ukrainian side was officially warned, and 15 minutes before the plane entered the area, they were provided with complete information, which was also received by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. confirmed receipt“, said Andrey Kartapolov to their fellow legislators, according to the ruling party United Russia.

“We all know exactly what happened next.”added Kartapolov, a former general with close ties to the Ministry of Defense and current chairman of the Russian Parliament’s Defense Commission.

His statement directly contradicted the statement Ukrainian military intelligence about what Russia I didn’t tell him about preparing for the flight.

Conflicting narratives on both sides are a daily feature of the war as it approaches the end of its second year. But what’s at stake is especially important with Wednesday’s incident. the deadliest phenomenon of its kind that occurred in Russia recognized internationally.

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Moscow described Ukrainian “terrorist act” The crash of an Il-76 military transport aircraft in southwestern Russia. Belgorodclose to the border with Ukraine.

President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelenskysaid on Wednesday that greater clarity about what happened, especially regarding who was on board, and accused Russia of ““plays with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners”.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinetsrepeated this request on Thursday.

“As for the international investigation, I think we will do everything possible to ensure that it takes place. But I’m convinced that […] The Russians will make announcements with great fanfare, but They won’t let anyone in. They will not deliver any material. for analysis, and they will limit themselves to blaming Ukraine,” Lubinets said on national television.

Russia has exclusive access to the crash site, where television footage showed debris scattered across snow-covered fields. Your state news agency, TASSstated that they have took the black boxes from the plane and that they would be transported to Moscow for research in a Ministry of Defense laboratory.

Ukrainian military intelligence power steering confirmed on Wednesday that exchange of prisoners of warbut said that he was not told how Russia would deliver the prisoners to the landing site.

He also stated that Ukraine was not asked to secure the airspace around Belgorod, contrary to what was agreed in previous exchanges.

He UN Security Council were scheduled to meet on Thursday at 22:00 (GMT) in response to Russia’s request for a meeting to determine “the reasons Ukrainian criminal act“.

(Reuters)