A French military source said the downed plane was hit by a Ukrainian strike

According to this source, the plane was hit by an American-made air defense battery manned by the Ukrainian army.

A plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners, according to Moscow, was shot down by Ukrainian air defense batteries on Wednesday January 24 over the Russian city of Belgorod, very close to the Ukrainian border, a French military source said on Wednesday evening. at franceinfo. According to this source, the plane, an Ayushin 76, was hit by an American-made “Patriot” air defense battery housed by the Ukrainian military.

An emergency meeting of the Security Council will take place on Thursday evening at Moscow’s request, the French president of the council announced on Wednesday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is visiting New York, called the meeting earlier on Wednesday, but it will happen. “Tomorrow January 25” At 11 pm (French time), the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for an international investigation

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for an international investigation into the matter on Wednesday evening. “It is clear that the Russians are playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners, with the feelings of their parents and with the feelings of our society”He declared in his daily address, without confirming or denying that the victims were indeed prisoners of his country.

The Russian Defense Ministry accused Kiev of shooting down the Russian military plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. “Launch of two missiles”. “The Kyiv regime committed a terrorist act by shooting down a Russian military transport plane that was flying from Chkalovsky Airfield to Belgorod to transport Ukrainian soldiers for exchange”.

, the Ministry endorsed. According to Moscow, no one survived the plane crash.

Ukrainian Military Intelligence (GUR) claimed not “Reliable Information” On the passengers of the downed Russian plane. “There was a planned prisoner exchange today, but it didn’t happen”He added, assured that Ukraine has not “not known” The need to secure airspace in the area.