A Russian Ilyushin-76 military transport plane crashed in the southern Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. The crash resulted in the loss of at least 65 lives, as reported by Russian authorities quoting the Ministry of Defence.

According to the Ria Novosti news agency, among the casualties were captured members of Ukraine’s armed forces.

Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov acknowledged the occurrence of an “incident” but refrained from providing additional details. The lack of specific information has fuelled concerns and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A video circulating on social media captured the harrowing moment when the aircraft, identified as an Ilyushin-76 military transport plane, took a downward turn before disappearing from view.

As rescue and recovery efforts commence, authorities are expected to investigate the crash thoroughly to determine the factors that led to the tragic loss of lives. The involvement of captured members of Ukraine’s armed forces adds a layer of complexity to the situation, potentially intensifying diplomatic relations