Putin: Ukraine Shot Down Military Transport Plane Last Week with Patriot Missiles

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday that the "Il-76 military transport plane that was shot down in the Belgorod region last week was targeted by missiles fired from the Patriot air defense system provided by the United States to Ukraine." He mentioned that "Russia wants to conduct an international investigation into the incident." Moscow accuses Kyiv of downing the plane and killing 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian soldiers who were prisoners and whom it claims were on their way to be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war. Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied shooting down the plane and has requested proof of the identities of those on board.