Il-76 downing topic will be used: intelligence warns of new Russian PSYOP against Ukraine

This was reported by a representative of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Andriy Yusov, Suspilne reports.

"There is information that the enemy will continue to use the topic of the downing of this aircraft to conduct information and psychological operations and discredit our country abroad. And approximately for July, certain actions are planned by the so-called Russian Investigative Committee," Yusov said.

According to him, the Kremlin has instructed its units to search for wreckage, including Patriot missiles, in the temporarily occupied territories to try to build some kind of evidence base.

He also emphasized that no progress has been made in the downing of the IL-76 aircraft.

"The aggressor state did not respond to Ukraine's call for the establishment of an international commission to conduct an international investigation with the participation of representatives of the UN and the Red Cross. In fact, Russia has blocked this initiative, which also speaks volumes," he added.

Crash of the IL-76 military transport aircraft in Russia

On January 24, a Russian military transport aircraft IL-76 crashed in the Belgorod region.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the ship allegedly carried Ukrainian prisoners of war who were being transported to the Belgorod region for exchange.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia had requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council because of the downing of the plane, which Moscow accused Ukraine of shooting down. France rejected the request.

The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate confirmed that a prisoner exchange was to take place on January 24. The intelligence noted that it currently does not have reliable and comprehensive information about who was on board the plane and in what quantity.

White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that the United States cannot confirm the presence of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Russian Il-76.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will insist on an international investigation into the downing of the IL-76 military transport aircraft in Russia.

On January 30, Ukrainian intelligence said that Russia refuses to hand over the bodies of prisoners who allegedly died in the IL-76.

On January 31, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said the IL-76 military transport aircraft was shot down by the US Patriot system and promised to allow international experts to investigate.