Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged on Wednesday that a Patriot missile developed in the United States was used to shoot down a plane carrying detained Ukrainian soldiers.
On January 24, a Russian Il-76 cargo plane crashed, reportedly carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.
“The plane was shot down with certainty by an American Patriot system. This has already been confirmed by forensics”, Putin stated during a televised speech on Wednesday.
Kyiv and Washington did not immediately respond to Putin’s remarks.
In prior declarations and comments, Ukrainian officials have not flatly contradicted Russia’s account of events, but have questioned whether the jet was transporting Ukrainian POWs.
Putin also stated that Russia is insisting on an international probe into the plane’s downing, but that no international organizations are willing to participate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also asked for an international probe but believes it will be hampered because Russia has complete control over access to the crash site.
Patriots are guided surface-to-air missiles that can be deployed to either target aircraft or defend against incoming missiles.
Following months of requests from Kyiv, the United States decided to provide Patriot missile systems to Ukraine by the end of 2022.
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