The American-made Patriot missile system is likely responsible for the Russian Il-76 plane crash, American officials anonymously told The New York Times. The plane was also likely carrying at least some Ukrainian prisoners, officials reported.
Ukraine may have shot down Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft over Belgorod Oblast using a U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system in late January, The New York Times reported on Feb. 8.
The United States accused Russia on Tuesday of firing at least nine North Korean-supplied missiles at Ukraine, while Moscow labeled Washington a "direct accomplice" in the downing of a Russian military transport plane last month. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia and deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood traded the accusations at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine, requested by Moscow.
A Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap, without about 200 POWs from each side coming home, shows the countries are still talking after Moscow accused Kyiv of downing a plane.