Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Russian IL-76: Journalists identify crew killed in crash, relatives confirm deaths

Relatives have confirmed the deaths of at least three crew members.
Russian Il-76: Journalists identify crew killed in crash, relatives confirm deaths
Identified members of the Russian IL-76 crew. Photo: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Russian IL-76: Journalists identify crew killed in crash, relatives confirm deaths

Journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Schemy (Schemes) project have identified the six-man Russian military crew killed when their Il-76 transport plane crashed in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast. Using official documents and social media, the investigative reporters verified the casualties.

The crew belonged to the Orenburg-based 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment.

Commander Stanislav Bezzubkin, Photo: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

The deaths of at least three — 36-year-old commander Stanislav Bezzubkin, 38-year-old engineer Andrey Piluyev, and navigator Alexey Vysokhin — have been confirmed by relatives.

On-board engineer Andrey Piluyev. Photo: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Previously, Piluyev had received medals for Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Syria combat. 

Navigator Alexey Vysokhin. Photo: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Comments mourning the death of radio operator Igor Sablinsky appeared online. 

Radio operator Igor Sablinsky. Photo: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

The fates of two other crew, airborne engineer Sergey Zhyteniov and assistant Vadim Chmiriov, remain unverified.

On 24 January, a Russian IL-76 military cargo plane crashed in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast. The Kremlin accused Ukraine of deliberately shooting down the plane, which they claim was carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers for a prisoner exchange, in what it called a “barbaric act of terrorism” that killed 74 people total.

The Russian Defense Ministry said there were six Russian crew members and three Russian soldiers on the IL-76 military transport plane. Moscow has summoned an urgent session of the UN Security Council in connection with the crash. 

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reacted to the crash of the Russian IL-76 in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast. Their statement can be seen as a hint, but not a direct confirmation that the Ukrainian military shot down the Russian plane.

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to take measures to destroy means of delivery and airspace control in order to eliminate the terrorist threat, including in the Belgorod-Kharkiv direction,” the statement published on Facebook says.

So while not an outright admission, the General Staff’s vow to keep targeting Russian assets near the border leaves open the possibility Ukraine was behind the IL-76’s downing.

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate has confirmed that a prisoner exchange scheduled for 24 January did not occur but they “currently lack reliable information on who exactly was aboard”. 

Ukraine’s intelligence also stressed that Ukraine fulfilled all preparations for the prisoner swap, delivering Russian prisoners to the agreed location where they stayed unharmed. Yet Russia, responsible for Ukrainian POWs’ safety, gave no heads-up about securing airspace near Belgorod when transferring them, despite past coordination.

“Landing a transport plane in an active 30km battle zone endangers any prisoner exchange unless coordinated by both sides. Russia’s failure to discuss risks could signal premeditated attempts to destabilize Ukraine and erode our international backing,” Ukraine’s intelligence state on Facebook.

Mykhailo Podoliak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, told Reuters: “Comments will come a little later. Time is needed to clarify all the data.”

Read more:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!

    Related Posts