Ukraine forces used an air defense system supplied by Washington to attack a Russian aircraft carrying Ukrainian POWs for a pre-scheduled swap, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. The attack, which took place last week, led to the deaths of 65 Ukrainians onboard, as well as the plane’s crew and three Russian military personnel.
“The plane was downed... by a US-made Patriot system,” Putin revealed, calling it a “well established” fact that had been confirmed by a relevant expert review. Russian emergency services had previously suggested that fragments of one or more missiles were found at the aircraft crash site.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday disputed Moscow’s claim and called for an international probe into the incident. On Wednesday, Putin also said that Russia would seek an international investigation into the downed aircraft.
According to Putin, the attack might have also been a provocation aimed at prompting some sort of response from Russia. Moscow would not stop POW exchanges with Kiev, he clarified, arguing that Russia wants its “guys back” and would try to bring them home as long as Ukraine agrees to such swaps.
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