Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine on Friday in his first public feedback following the crash of a aircraft in Russia’s Belgorod area.
Ukraine in distinction known as for a particular UN Security Council session to find out what occurred and who was on board the Russian aircraft that crashed on Wednesday.
Putin, at a gathering with navy representatives in St Petersburg, mentioned the air defence system in Ukrainian-controlled territory had shot down the Russian Ilyushin aircraft with two missiles.
The Ukrainian aspect had recognized upfront that 65 of their prisoners of warfare had been on board, he added. Ukraine disputes the Russian claims and has to this point solely confirmed {that a} prisoner trade was deliberate.
“What happened is a crime,” Putin confused.
Later Russia’s Investigative Committee put out a video it mentioned confirmed the crash web site, with Ukrainian paperwork strewn among the many our bodies. The committee – an equal of the FBI within the United States – mentioned this proved the passengers had been Ukrainian prisoners of warfare however this might not be independently verified.
The aircraft was shot down both by the US Patriot system or by a European system – “most likely a French one,” Putin mentioned earlier.
After inspecting the missile stays, there can be a transparent reply in a number of days as to which system had been used. The individuals in Ukraine additionally have to know what occurred, he added.
“I don’t know whether they did it on purpose or by mistake, out of thoughtlessness – but they did it,” he mentioned.
Putin categorically rejected the concept the Russian armed forces might have shot down their very own aircraft.
“Our air defence systems are fundamentally incapable of launching a strike against one of our own aircraft,” he mentioned.
The anti-aircraft missiles struck two or three minutes after take-off, he mentioned. According to Russian info, 9 Russian crew members additionally died.
The Ukrainian navy intelligence service had been knowledgeable upfront in regards to the transport of the prisoners of warfare, Putin mentioned. However, there may be nonetheless no unbiased affirmation about whether or not there have been truly prisoners on board.
The combatants engaged in a handover of troopers’ stays on Friday however it was not clear if these from the aircraft had been included.
According to US estimates, over 70,000 Ukrainian and greater than 120,000 Russian troopers have been killed for the reason that warfare started nearly two years in the past.
At the St Petersburg assembly, which was attended by troopers coming back from the warfare, Putin mentioned the goals of his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine had been being achieved. He mentioned 600,000 troopers had been at present deployed on the entrance line.
Russia’s navy is ready to obtain extra high-tech weaponry in 2024, Deputy Defence Minister Alexsey Krivoruchko introduced on the assembly, based on the Interfax news company.
The Sarmat nuclear missile, new Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bombers, fashionable S-500 air defence techniques and an extra strategic nuclear submarine are poised to be constructed.
The Tu-160M is a modernized model of the Soviet Tu-160 bomber, which Russia remains to be deploying within the warfare towards Ukraine.
The new techniques are apparently supposed to exchange the numerous losses suffered by Russia in the course of the warfare. The nuclear submarine Poscharski belongs to the Borei class, which may hearth sea-based intercontinental missiles.
An enhance of Russian firepower would solely exacerbate the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine.
Even with present weapons, the UN Refugee Agency has now categorized the humanitarian scenario in Ukraine as very critical and warned that support is slowing down.
Daily air strikes carry destruction and have an effect on civilians, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi advised dpa in Kiev.
“So lots of people are made homeless and displaced,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile Bruno Kahl, the pinnacle of Germany’s BND international intelligence service, advised Focus journal that Russia will stay a risk even when Putin is gone.
“Even if he fell out of the window or was harmed in some other way, there would be enough people who think exactly like him and would pursue the same policies,” Kahl mentioned.
Putin’s intention is to re-establish the previous energy of Greater Russia, he mentioned, including: “If Ukraine were forced to give up, this would not quench Russia’s thirst for power.”
Kahl warned that if the West didn’t present a transparent willingness to defend itself, there would not be any motive for Putin to draw back from an assault on NATO.
Source: www.anews.com.tr