– If it is confirmed that American or German surface-to-air missile systems were used in the deadly attack on the Russian Il-76 plane over the Belgorod region, Western countries will become complicit in the crime committed by the Kiev government.
Read all about the war in Ukraine
This was stated by Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky TASS.
The United Nations demands evidence
Deputy Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP
The accusations come from both sides of the front line. While Russian authorities claim that the Il-76 transport plane was full of Ukrainian prisoners of war, Ukraine is demanding proof of this.
During the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, no evidence was presented for Russia's allegations. Ukraine also indicated that Russia may have used the plane to transport missiles to the front.
They allegedly gave Ukraine a 15-minute warning
Russia claims to have given Ukraine a 15-minute warning before the Il-76 took off for Belgorod.
– The Ukrainian side was officially warned, and 15 minutes before the plane entered the area they received complete information, says Russian politician Andrei Kartopolov. Reuters.
Article continues below adArticle continues below ad
The authorities in Kiev rejected this claim and denied receiving such a warning.
(The article continues below the video)
video: A Russian military plane crashed here
– American Patriot missiles or German-made Iris-T missiles
Russia's envoy to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, believes that investigations indicate that Western air defenses opened fire before the plane went down.
– According to preliminary investigation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out this terrorist attack using an anti-aircraft missile system. The missiles were launched from the village of Liptse in the Kharkov region. These were probably either US Patriot missiles or German-made Iris-T missiles.
Article continues below adArticle continues below ad
Polyansky added: – Just as they are complicit in the bombing of peaceful neighborhoods in Russian cities carried out by the Ukrainian armed forces with Western weapons.
He wonders about the number of passengers
According to Russia, there were 74 people on board, and all of them were reported killed in the accident. 65 of these are said to have been Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Article continues below ad
But according to the lists published by the Russian authorities, the list contains the names of Ukrainian prisoners who have already been exchanged Independent Kyiv.
Ukrainian intelligence (HUR) believes the failure to warn may have been a deliberate tactic by Russia to “create a threat to the lives and safety of prisoners.” It is also noted that the photos from the scene of the accident do not indicate “any indications of the presence of such a large number of people on board the plane.”
“Organizer. Social media geek. General communicator. Bacon scholar. Proud pop culture trailblazer.”