Il-76 crash: Ukraine’s defense intel to comment on “swap list” only after Russia publishes it officially

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry (GUR) will comment on the alleged list of prisoners of war, who were being prepared for the exchange on January 24, only after Russian government authorities make them public, rather than propaganda media as is the case at the moment.

That’s according to GUR spokesman Andriy Yusov.

"The fact is that commenting on the information that Russian propaganda deliberately spreads means participating in their psyop. When such lists are officially announced, of course, official comments will follow," he said.

"The lists were known. But it’s important to note, which lists... In Ukraine, official information is provided by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War and designated officials, including the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights.

On the part of the aggressor state, these are propagandists - Simonyan, Sharij, and so on, who circulate some sort of lists. Propagandists come forward and show some lists. So it’s neither the Ministry of Defense, nor the Humanitarian Headquarters, responsible for the treatment of prisoners of war, but propaganda," Yusov added.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, initially, Russian Telegram channels reported that an Il-76 strategic airlifter, which is designed to transport military equipment and troops, crashed in Belgorod region.

A source in the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed the plane had been carrying missiles for the S-300 air defense system, which the invaders use for mass shelling of Kharkiv region and other areas close to the border.

According to media reports, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed the plane was allegedly "carrying 65 captured Ukrainian servicemen", as well as six crew and three guards.

Andriy Yusov, a representative from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, said the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine was supposed to take place on January 24. According to him, the information voiced by the Russian side that prisoners of war could be on board the Il-76 plane that crashed in Belgorod region was being verified.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the nation that Ukraine would insist on an international investigation into the crash.