At a Security Council session convened at Russia’s initiative, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo addressed the issue of the crash involving an Il-76 aircraft in the Belgorod region. She stated that the UN cannot verify the details surrounding the incident as reported, noting that the information available could not be independently confirmed. The comment was reported by TASS and reflected the UN’s position on the ongoing inquiry and any competing narratives about what occurred.
During the meeting, DiCarlo emphasized the need for careful verification of facts and cautioned against drawing firm conclusions before all evidence is reviewed. The UN’s stance underscored the autonomous nature of its assessments, which rely on information from multiple credible sources and observer teams as part of standard procedures in conflict-related investigations. (Source: TASS)
In parallel, officials at the Pentagon issued statements about the possibility that Ukrainian forces could have used U.S.-supplied weapons to bring down a Russian military aircraft in the Belgorod area. The remarks pointed to an assessment of events on the ground and highlighted the complexities involved in attributing responsibility in a contested theater of operations. (Source: Pentagon)
On January 24, an Il-76M transport aircraft went down in the Belgorod region, roughly 5 to 6 kilometers from the village of Yablonovo. Russian authorities reported that the plane carried around 65 Ukrainian military personnel who were being moved to the Belgorod region for an exchange operation. The day after, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced preliminary findings indicating that the downing might have been caused by a Ukrainian missile strike. The evolving official statements reflect ongoing investigations and the sensitivity of cross-border exchanges in the area. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense; Investigative Committee of Russia)
Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) initiated a criminal case following the Il-76 incident, signaling that Ukrainian authorities were treating the event as an incident with potential legal consequences. The development illustrates how subsequent legal actions and official inquiries can shape the narrative around the crash as authorities from multiple sides pursue accountability. (Source: SBU)