Russia accuses Ukraine of shooting down military plane carrying prisoners of war

Russia is accusing Ukraine of downing a military plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. It comes amid discussions in the European Union and in Australia around committing further military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

In this photo taken from validated UGC video smoke rises from the scene of a warplane crash at a residential area near Yablonovo, Belgorod region, Wednesday, Jun. 23, 2024. Russia says a military transport plane that was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war has crashed in a Russian region near Ukraine. (Validated UGC video via AP) Credit: AP

There were no survivors on the Russian military plane - which had on board 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, six Russian crew members and three Russian soldiers.

Russia says the Ukrainian PoWs were being transported for a prisoner exchange - and it accused Ukraine of shooting down the aircraft.

Ukraine has not directly confirmed it shot down the plane, but accused Russia of deliberately jeopardising the lives of prisoners of war