Data On The Black Box Of A Russian Military Plane That Crashed In Belgorod Confirms External Impact, Shot Down?

Russian investigative officers on the wreckage of the Ilyushin Il-76 plane that crashed in Belgorod. (Source: Russian Investigative Committee via TASS)

JAKARTA - Data taken from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data of the Ilyushin-76 military transport aircraft confirmed the external impact was the cause of the crash in the Belgorod region, an official source told TASS.

"Data from the black box excludes all possible versions of the Ilyushin-76 crash and confirms that the plane was affected externally. In other words, the plane was shot down in the air. Everything is clear," the source said, launching TASS January 30.

However, he said the analysis of the black box data was continuing.

"This work is almost finished. There is no need to rush," said the official.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would instruct the Investigative Committee to publish details of the crash of the Russian Air Force's Ilyushin-76 (IL-76) military transport plane.

"I will ask the Investigative Committee to publish as many incidents as possible so that people in Ukraine can also know what really happened. Investigative agencies are working on every fact and increasing the number," said President Putin.

It is known that a Russian IL-76 military transport plane carrying 74 people, including 65 Ukrainian war prisoners who were supposed to have followed the exchange, crashed in the Belgorod area on January 24.

Russia blamed the incident on Ukraine, saying it had informed Kyiv of the military plane carrying prisoners of war that would pass through the Belgorod area.