Kiev:
Ukraine's SBU security service opened a criminal investigation on Thursday into the downing of a Russian military plane that killed 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to Moscow.
Kiev has not said whether captured Ukrainian soldiers were killed — or were involved — in Wednesday's shooting down of a military transport plane over Russia's western Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine.
“The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation into the downing of an IL-76 aircraft of the Russian Air Force in the Belgorod region,” the SBU press service said.
“The SBU is currently taking a series of measures to clarify all circumstances surrounding the downturn,” the report said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Wednesday for an international investigation into the incident.
Kiev confirmed that a prisoner exchange would take place at the border between the two countries on Wednesday, but said Moscow had not informed them that any prisoners of war would be transported by plane.
Ukraine also has not confirmed or denied Russia's central claim that Kiev shot down the plane, killing dozens of Ukrainian soldiers on board.
The SBU said its criminal investigation focused on “violations of the laws and customs of war.”
Zelenskiy warned on Thursday that Ukraine's ability to establish the facts surrounding the crash would be hampered as the crash took place on Russian territory.
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