Investigation Links Patriot Missile Fragments to Il-76 Crash in Belgorod Region
Fragments believed to be from Patriot air defense missiles were recovered at the site of a downed Il-76 in Russia’s Belgorod region. The disclosure came from the press service of Russia’s Investigative Committee, which is leading the inquiry into the incident.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Svetlana Petrenko, stated that a fragment from the missile’s destructive element was found on the body of one of the prisoners aboard the transport aircraft. Explosive analysis confirmed that the fragment originated from two anti-aircraft guided missiles associated with the American Patriot system. This finding has become a central piece in the official narrative surrounding the crash. [Attribution: Investigative Committee findings, cited through official channels]
On January 24, 2024, the Russian military transport aircraft Il-76 was shot down near the village of Yablonovo in the Belgorod region. The aircraft was reportedly tasked with transporting Ukrainian prisoners of war to Belgorod for potential exchange. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the flight carried 65 Ukrainian servicemen, along with six crew members and three escorts. These numbers have been referenced in subsequent statements about the incident. [Attribution: Russian Defense Ministry]
One week after the crash, President Vladimir Putin announced that the investigation concluded the aircraft was downed by a missile fired from the Patriot system supplied by the United States. In parallel, the Investigative Committee released a different account, indicating that two MIM-104A missiles from the Patriot complex were involved in shooting down the Il-76. The divergence in official statements has been noted by observers and has fed ongoing debates about responsibility and the details of the attack. [Attribution: Presidential remarks; Investigative Committee briefing]
Earlier, regional authorities reported attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on three settlements within the Belgorod region. These updates contributed to a broader narrative of ongoing hostilities in the border area and the strategic importance researchers attribute to Belgorod as a focal point of tension. [Attribution: Belgorod regional administration statements]