Explaining complex things in simple words: Il-76 incident, situation of Ukrainian POWs, consensus with Slovakia

INCIDENT WITH IL-76

On January 24, a Russian IL-76 strategic airlifter was shot down over Belgorod region. Russia claims there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war on board the plane, who were being transported for exchange.

▪ The circumstances of the downing of the aircraft and the identities of persons on board are yet to be established. Russian official statements cannot be trusted. Moscow constantly lies, as in the case of the MH17 tragedy. Ukraine will insist on an international investigation of the incident.

▪ There is currently no evidence that Ukrainian citizens were on board the plane. Russia did not request a safe air corridor and neither did it inform Ukraine of its intention to transport prisoners of war by air, unlike during the previous exchanges.

▪ The IL-76 aircraft belonged to the 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment, which was repeatedly involved in hauling weapons and ammunition Russia used to kill Ukrainians.

The military cargo plane is a legitimate military target.

▪ Regardless of the actual circumstances of the incident, the behaviour by the Russian side constitutes a clear act of provocation aimed at demoralizing Ukrainians and undermining Ukraine's international reputation. It is also a cynical attempt to reduce Ukraine's defense capabilities.

SITUATION OF POWS

According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, more than 8,000 Ukrainians remain in Russian captivity, including over 1,600 civilians.

▪ By claiming that the Il-76 was carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war, Russia actually admitted that it deliberately put prisoners of war at risk, which is a gross violation of the Geneva Convention.

▪ There are objective grounds for concern about the threat to the lives of our citizens mentioned on the list published by Russia. After all, Moscow has already declared them dead.

▪ Russia is capable of dirty and bloody provocations exploiting prisoners of war. This is confirmed by the massacre in the Olenivka detention facility in July 2022.

▪ Moscow regularly uses prisoners for propaganda purposes: it sets up sham trials, slows down the process of swap to accuse and discredit the Ukrainian side, and puts pressure on POWs’ families.

▪ The Russians hold in captivity not only prisoners of war, but also civilian hostages – in the conditions equivalent to torture. The International Committee of the Red Cross is not allowed to see the prisoners, Moscow is sabotaging the appointment of a guardian state, which is provided for by the Geneva Convention.

CONSENSUS WITH SLOVAKIA

As a result of negotiations on January 24 in Uzhhorod, Prime Ministers Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine and his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico signed a joint statement of readiness for further cooperation.

▪ The Parties confirmed their readiness for further cooperation aimed at respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.

▪ Slovakia will continue to support Ukraine's European integration.

▪ Bratislava will support the Ukraine Facility programme, which provides for the allocation of EUR 50 billion to Ukraine by the European Union.

▪ The Slovak government will not block Ukraine's purchase of weapons and equipment from Slovak companies.

▪ Slovakia supported the Ukrainian Peace Formula and noted the importance of joint efforts to ensure global food security, increase transit potential for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security