KYIV, Ukraine – The crash of a Russian military plane near the Ukrainian border has raised suspicions of the use of Ukrainian prisoners of war as human shields by Russia. The Ukrainian deputy ambassador to the UN, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, accused Russia of intentionally endangering the lives and safety of the prisoners.
While Kyiv did not confirm directly if it had shot down the plane, Moscow accused Ukraine of downing the aircraft. The downed Russian military plane was said to be carrying 65 prisoners of war, although Ukrainian authorities did not confirm the presence of prisoners on board.
In addition to the plane crash, Russian missile attacks on two Ukrainian cities overnight left seven people injured and damaged a nursery and a school.
The situation has sparked a criminal complaint from Ukraine and calls for an international investigation into the crash. This incident has intensified tensions between the two nations amidst ongoing conflict.
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates, the potential implications of this incident for both countries and the broader international community are significant. The use of human shields and the potential targeting of prisoners of war on board a military plane add an alarming dimension to this already volatile situation.