Russia's Putin says Ukraine shot down plane, deliberately or in error

Vehicles are parked next to a road near the crash site of the Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane in the village of Yablonovo in the Belgorod region, Russia, January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a Russian military plane that crashed near the border with Ukraine was shot down by Ukrainian air defences, whether on purpose or by mistake.

Moscow accuses Kyiv of downing the Ilyushin Il-76 plane in Russia's Belgorod region on Wednesday and killing 74 people on board, including 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers en route to be swapped for Russian prisoners of war. It has not presented evidence.