The State Border Guard Service does not rule out that the Russian Federation could use Ukrainian prisoners as a "human shield" for transporting weapons

Ukrainian intelligence does not rule out the possibility that the terrorist country, Russia, could use Ukrainian prisoners of war as human shields to transport weapons. According to Andriy Yusov, the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Russian occupiers claimed that the crashed Il-76 aircraft was only one-third loaded.

Yusov mentioned that during the previous exchange of prisoners, which involved 230 Ukrainian soldiers returning home, air transportation was utilized. However, at that time, the Russian Federation warned that the plane would land and requested a ceasefire. Yusov shared this information on Radio Liberty.

The GUR representative emphasized that the IL-76 plane that crashed in the Belgorod region on the morning of January 14 could have been carrying both missiles and people simultaneously. However, based on Russian statements, the plane was allegedly only one-third full.

"The plane could have been carrying missiles for the S-300 system, or missiles and people at the same time. We are talking about a large military aircraft. It was only one-third loaded, according to them. Did it make sense to use this particular plane? There were also other planes flying in parallel with it at the same time - AN-26 and AN-72 in the space next to the IL that crashed. There are many circumstances that require investigation and maximum study," Yusov stated.

According to the DIU representative, any scenario of the IL-76 plane crash is possible, including a deliberate provocation by the terrorist country Russia. He also does not rule out the possibility that the enemy could have used Ukrainian prisoners of war as human shields to transport weapons.

Additionally, Yusov does not rule out the possibility that the Russian occupiers could have perceived the IL-76 as a Ukrainian reconnaissance UAV and shot it down with air defense systems.