Russia, Ukraine plane crash: Fate of POWs highlights air war

Ukraine and Russia traded blame after a military plane crashed in the Belgorod border region. The Kremlin accused Kyiv of shooting it down, killing 65 Ukrainian POWs.

KYIV, Ukraine — More than 24 hours after a military transport plane’s fiery crash into the snowy fields of a Russian border region, there were still more questions than answers in an episode that has already proved deadly and damaging for Ukraine.

The Kremlin accuses Kyiv of shooting the plane down, knowing 65 of its own prisoners of war were on board. Ukraine has so far not directly confirmed nor flatly denied the accusation, while calling for an international investigation.

It remains to be seen exactly who was on board, what brought the plane down, and where this fits in the high-stakes information battle that has seen claim and counterclaim in the nearly two years since Russia's full-scale invasion.

The incident comes at a particularly crucial moment for Kyiv, which is struggling to retain Western support and attention. With fighting across the war’s front lines largely at a stalemate, focus has shifted to the air, where Ukraine has increasingly dealt blows to Russia’s more powerful air force and taken aim deeper within enemy territory.

Now that growing power may have taken a tragic turn, and the two sides are battling not for control of the skies, but for control of the narrative.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-plane-crash-pows-air-war-rcna135592

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