Here's what we know about the fatal Belgorod plane crash Moscow and Kyiv are trading accusations over

Russia and Ukraine are trading claims and counterclaims over the details and cause of a Russian military plane crash Moscow says killed dozens of captured Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

But, little evidence has been offered by either side so far for their accusations.

The Il-76 military transport plane crashed in a huge ball of fire in a rural area of Russia near the border with Ukraine on Wednesday morning (local time).

The crash killed all 74 people on board, the Russian defence ministry said, which would make it the deadliest incident of its kind on internationally recognised Russian territory since the February 2022 invasion.

Russia has blamed Ukraine, while Kyiv has accused Moscow of “hiding” information.

So, who is saying what? And what do we actually know so far?

Here’s where the accusations begin

• Russia says Ukraine was given a 15-minute warning that Ukrainian POWs were on the plane
• Ukraine denied that it was given a warning
• Kyiv says it has no confirmation of who was on board
• Russia says the plane was struck by a Ukrainian-made surface-to-air missile from the Kharkiv region
• Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied it shot down the plane

Where did the crash happen?

The crash took place just north-east of Belgorod in western Russia, close to the border with Ukraine.

Footage from social media, which was verified by the Reuters news agency, shows the plane falling towards the ground and exploding in a fireball near a residential area.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said the crash occurred a few kilometres away from the village of Yablonovo.

The Belgorod region has been the target of frequent cross-border attacks by Ukraine.

Russia’s Investigative Committee on Thursday said the plane was struck by a Ukrainian-made surface-to-air missile launched from Liptsy in the Kharkiv region.

Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukrainian military intelligence, told the BBC that both sides were using drones that day over Belgorod.

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Russia’s top investigative agency on Thursday released footage they say is the crash site of the military transport plane.

The short video shows blood on the snow, plane wreckage and a large blackened area of ground.

Russia has sole access to the site of the crash, where TV pictures showed debris scattered over snowy fields.

The Russian news agency TASS said the plane’s flight recorders had been recovered and would be flown to Moscow for examination at a defence ministry laboratory.

What is Russia saying?

Russia said the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs, six Russian crew members and three Russian soldiers.

However, it has not provided any proof to back its claims.

Russia alleged that Kyiv shot down the plane with two missiles after being officially informed of its route.

“The Ukrainian side was officially warned, and 15 minutes before the plane entered the zone they were given complete information, which they received and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed receipt of,” Andrei Kartapolov, a senior Russian politician said, according to the ruling United Russia party.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and said he had “no concern” about the international community believing Russia’s allegations.

He said Russia would seek to establish “the reasons behind the Ukrainian criminal act”.

At the Security Council meeting, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats clashed.

Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky accused Ukraine of a premeditated attack that sacrificed its own citizens “to Western geopolitical interests”.

He said that if a preliminary investigation showing the plane was hit by an American or German missile is confirmed, the Western countries that supplied the weapons “will become direct participants of this crime”.

What is Ukraine saying?

Ukrainian military intelligence said Russia’s accusations that Kyiv shot down the transport plane could be “a planned action to destabilise the situation in Ukraine and weaken international support for our state”.

A representative of Ukrainian defence intelligence told the BBC he “does not exclude” the possibility there were Ukrainian prisoners on board.

Ukraine has not commented on Russian allegations that it was responsible for the crash.

Like Russia, it has not provided any evidence to back its version of what happened

Mr Yusov said Kyiv had received no requests from Russia to refrain from attacks in the airspace where the plane was downed — contrary to previous POW swaps.

Ukraine has claimed it was not informed by Russia about the means of transport and travel routes that the POWs would take.

“Unfortunately, we can assume various scenarios, including provocation, as well as the use of Ukrainian prisoners as a human shield for transporting ammunition and weapons for S-300 systems [being used in the war],” Mr Yusov told Radio Svoboda.

When asked by the BBC whether it was possible Ukraine had shot down the military plane, Mr Yusov said: “We do not confirm such information.”

He said both sides were using drones that day over Belgorod.

“There were Ukrainian reconnaissance drones and Russia was launching attack drones,” he said.

“Russian air defence was working against them. Belgorod is also potentially within the range of Ukrainian air defence systems.”

Ukraine’s deputy UN ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn said Ukraine fulfilled its obligations and transferred Russian prisoners safely to the agreed location for the swap.

After the crash, Russian military and security officials didn’t allow emergency workers to inspect the site “as per protocol,” she said.

She also told the Security Council that according to Ukrainian military intelligence, “only five bodies were sent to the local morgue in Belgorod” and no human remains are visible on footage from the site.

What’s next?

Following the meeting, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the council the UN was not in a position to verify the circumstances of the crash.

“What is clear is that the incident took place in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing war,” she said.

“To avoid further escalation, we urge all concerned to refrain from actions, rhetoric, or allegations that could further fuel the already dangerous conflict.”

Russia’s top investigative agency, known as the Investigative Committee, has opened a criminal probe on charges that the crash was a terrorist act.

The discovery of the transport plane’s flight recorders was reported on Thursday (local time) by Russia’s state-owned RIA Novosti news agency, citing emergency services.

Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, demanded access to the crash site for international experts and said Ukraine is ready to provide information.

“We definitely don’t have anything to hide,” he told the Associated Press.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country would push for an international investigation.

Ukraine’s military said it would continue to destroy Russian military transport aircraft it believed were carrying missiles that could be used to strike Ukraine.

Mr Kartapolov said Russia would continue exchanging prisoners despite the crash.

Wires/ABC