The Kremlin has defined the shooting down of a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane, which crashed yesterday in the Belgorod region, as an "incomprehensible monstrous act" by Kiev. According to various sources, there were 65 Ukrainian prisoners on board the aircraft. Now Moscow says that such an attack could affect the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine. 

"The fact that the Ukrainians killed Ukrainian prisoners of war, themselves citizens, who were going to return home literally the next day, is certainly an absolutely monstrous act. If Zelensky intends an international investigation into the criminal acts of the Kiev regime, then it is absolutely necessary", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 

The Russian politician's words come in response to those of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had called for an international investigation into the incident. A request to which the Kremlin said it agreed on the condition that it is treated as a crime committed deliberately by Kiev. "You should have President Zelensky 's phone number. Call him and ask him about it", Peskov replied. 

On the same issue see also the article published by AVIONEWS.