A military transport aircraft, an Il-76, crashed within the Belgorod region after sustaining damage from striking elements of a missile launched by Ukrainian forces. Emergency services reported that the external damage caused the aircraft to lose control completely, leading to the devastating accident on site near the Belgorod countryside.
Officials confirmed that fragments from the Ukrainian projectile compromised the airframe and also touched the aircraft’s engine, exacerbating the loss of control. The impact was described by emergency responders as the primary cause of the aircraft’s catastrophic failure in flight.
In the wake of the incident, the emergency services representative stated that the external hit directly resulted in the Il-76’s uncontrollable descent. Investigators reviewed the sequence of events to determine the exact timing and nature of the damage inflicted by the projectile.
On the date of the crash, January 24, observers reported that the Il-76 was employed in transporting captured personnel from Ukrainian forces. The aircraft carried a total of 65 Ukrainian soldiers along with three Russian officers and six crew members who were aboard during the mission. The transport flight occurred as part of operations in the broader region where military activities had been unfolding.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the aircraft also came under fire while en route, with authorities indicating that gunfire originated from the Kharkov region. The ministry noted that the aircraft faced hostile fire during its journey, contributing to the perilous conditions that led to the crash.
The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case under articles related to acts of terrorism in connection with the incident. Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated publicly that there were no survivors on board and that the crash resulted in the loss of the entire crew and the personnel being transported, underscoring the gravity of the event and the ongoing inquiry.
President Vladimir Putin later addressed the incident, commenting on the weaponry that Ukrainian forces might have used to shoot down the Il-76. The remarks focused on the potential types of armaments involved and the considerations surrounding their deployment in the region. The discussion highlighted the broader context of ongoing clashes and the strategic implications of such downings in the area.