In a recent development, Ukrainian officials have expressed doubt over Russia's claims that a military transport plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war was shot down by Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian agency responsible for prisoner exchanges has stated that Russia has provided no credible evidence to support its allegations.

The agency reported that Russian officials had only "with great delay" shared a list of the 65 Ukrainians who Moscow claimed had perished in the plane crash. However, the relatives of the named prisoners were unable to identify their loved ones in the crash site photos provided by the Russian authorities.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Lt. Col. Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Kyiv had no verifiable information regarding the passengers onboard the plane. In response to the Russian Defense Ministry's assertion that missiles fired from across the border caused the downing, Budanov mentioned that there was no evidence to suggest that so many people were present on the aircraft.

The crash, which occurred in Russia's Belgorod region on Wednesday, claimed the lives of all 74 passengers and crew members on board, including six crew members and three Russian servicemen. While local authorities in the Belgorod region have confirmed the casualties, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical of the Russian narrative.

Budanov further noted that the claim made by Russian propaganda regarding the transport of 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war for a prisoner swap continues to raise numerous questions. Thus far, Ukrainian authorities have not been able to independently verify the details surrounding the incident.

With tensions between Russia and Ukraine already strained, these conflicting accounts concerning the downed plane and the alleged prisoner exchange have raised concerns of misinformation and further escalating tensions between the two nations.

As investigations into the incident continue, Ukraine urges Russia to provide concrete evidence to support its claims, ensuring transparency and clarity in the pursuit of the truth.