Former Ukraine's POW Maksym Kolesnikov commented on the situation with Il-76, saying that there were hardly any Ukrainian prisoners on board.
Maxksym Kolesnikov commented on the situation with Il-76
Kolesnikov doubts that the 65 prisoners flew accompanied by only three escorts. Because during his exchange, there were 20 escorts for 50 prisoners.
The Russian Ministry of War stated that the Il-76 had 65 prisoners, six crew members and 3 (three!) escorts. This is total bullsh*t. When I was taken by plane from Bryansk to Belgorod, there were about 20 of their military police out of 50 prisoners. Three guards, right — wrote Maksym Kolesnikov.
Maksym Kolesnikov returned home due to the POW exchange on February 4, 2023, when 116 Ukrainians returned to Ukraine. His photo with an apple in his hand — the first in almost a year — went viral worldwide.
Earlier on January 24, Russian propaganda media spread information from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation that an Il-76 military transport plane crashed in the Belgorod region during a scheduled flight.
At the same time, they said that there were allegedly 65 captured Ukrainian service members on board, who were being transported to the Belgorod region for exchange, with six crew members and three escorts.
Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that specialised structures in Ukraine are currently collecting information and analysing the downing of the plane.
Maksym Kolesnikov about captivity, civilians held hostage by Russia and mobilisation
In an interview with online.ua, Maksym Kolesnikov explained why Russia captures Ukrainian civilians, why international organisations cannot influence it, and what all Ukrainians should pay attention to.
Most likely, it is my opinion that there are two reasons why civilians are not released. Of course, because this is an admission of his crime. Why don't they exchange the military? The first is, after all, heating up our internal dissatisfaction. And the second is the reluctance to show one's crimes once again.
Because every time, every exchange is new evidence of crimes against humanity, against the rules of some international law. So that's why they don't want it.
