Despite the Russian MOD statement about the alleged 65 dead in the Il-76 crash, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has become aware of the number of bodies delivered to the forensic medical institution after the plane crash.
DIU says only five bodies were delivered to the Belgorod morgue after Il-76 crash
Russian rescuers were not allowed to inspect the crash site of the Il-76 plane in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.
The DIU spokesman, Andriy Yusov, announced this information.
The representatives of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, who arrived at the scene of the incident, were actually expelled by representatives of the FSB and the military, and they were not given the opportunity, according to the protocol, to inspect the site and locate this wreckage, — said the DIU representative.
Yusov also says that no human remains are visible on the video from the crash site. And the day before, only five bodies were delivered to the local morgue in Belgorod.
It is known from agency data, in particular, that only five bodies were brought to the Belgorod morgue as of yesterday. Actually, this number corresponds to the number of personnel of the crew, the same Il-76 — the same aircraft that was part of the Russian Space Forces, he says.
DIU says Il-76 was supposed to be carrying top Russian officials
Russian top officials were supposed to be on board the Il-76 plane, which crashed the day before in the Belgorod region of Russia. However, the FSB forbade them to board at the last moment.
According to Andriy Yusov, Ukrainian intelligence learned about this after the plane crash.
A few official VIPs from the military and political representation of the aggressor state were indeed supposed to be on board. Their names are known and will be named, the materials will be provided as part of the international investigation. But at the last moment, the FSB actually ordered them not to get on this board and to use other modes of transport. This information was already clarified after the event happened, says Yusov.
The IL-76 plane crash: what is known
On January 25, the Security Service of Ukraine announced the opening of criminal proceedings on the fact of the IL-76 crash in Russia under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war).
The Russian state agencies regarding the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that, on January 24, a Russian Il-76 military transport plane crashed in the Belgorod region. It happened during a scheduled flight.
At the same time, the Russian agency claims that there were allegedly 65 captured Ukrainian service members on board the plane, who were being transported to the Belgorod region for exchange with six crew members and three people who accompanied the prisoners. Moscow did not provide any confirmation that Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board.
The DIU stated that "the exchange planned for January 24 did not occur. At the same time, the agency does not have data on whether Ukrainian prisoners were on board."
The DIU also presented its arguments and stated that it could be about "planned and deliberate actions of the Russian Federation to destabilise the situation in Ukraine and weaken international support."
