In an interview with 'Sunday Morning Futures', President Andrzej Duda of Poland addressed the country's dedication to bolstering its defense funding in response to Russia's alleged involvement in the shooting down of a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that a plane carrying 65 Ukrainian POWs crashed in the Belgorod region near Ukraine on Wednesday. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that six crew members and three Russian servicemen were also onboard. However, Ukrainian officials have strongly denied these claims, citing a lack of evidence provided by Russia.

During a meeting with students in St. Petersburg, Putin expressed his speculation about the Russian plane attack, stating, "Knowing (the POWs were aboard), they attacked this plane. I don't know whether they did it on purpose or by mistake, through thoughtlessness." Putin did not provide further details to substantiate his claims.

Contrary to Russia's assertions, the Ukrainian Coordination Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that relatives of the named POWs were unable to identify their loved ones in crash site photos provided by Russian authorities. Lt. Col. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, further stated that Kyiv had no verifiable information regarding who was on the ill-fated plane.

Budanov raised doubts about the Russian narrative, stating, "We currently don't have evidence that there could have been that many people onboard the aircraft. Russian propaganda's claim that the IL-76 aircraft was transporting 65 Ukrainian POWs (heading) for a prisoner swap continues to raise a lot of questions."

Despite video footage depicting the plane's crash, verified by the Associated Press and other news agencies, the claim that Ukrainian POWs perished in the incident remains unverified. The Ukrainian government has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in the shooting down of the Russian transport plane.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for an international investigation into the crash. However, Russia currently maintains sole control over the crash site, hindering impartial examination. Ukrainian officials confirmed that a prisoner exchange had been scheduled for Wednesday but was ultimately canceled. Notably, Moscow did not request the preservation of any airspace for a specific duration, as has been the case during previous prisoner swaps.

Amidst the conflicting narratives, Russian authorities have announced their own investigation into the crash. President Duda's comments highlight the importance of Poland's increased defense funding to counter the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. As the situation unfolds, international scrutiny and efforts to ascertain the truth behind the plane crash will continue.