Ukraine's Downing of Russian Il-76 Aircraft Considered Terrorism; Russia Appeals to International Organizations

The Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, Valery Fadeev, has reached out to international organizations demanding condemnation of Ukraine for downing the Russian Il-76 aircraft, which was carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. He called for these organizations to use their influence and all possible means to compel official Kyiv to cease gross violations of human rights.

“Ukrainian military personnel were fully aware that this aircraft was conducting a humanitarian mission and was being used as part of organizing a prisoner exchange. Ukraine initially acknowledged the attack on the Russian aircraft. These actions can only be characterized as terrorism, which contradicts the generally accepted rules and customs of warfare,” Fadeev stated.

Today, a request was sent to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, the European Parliament, and the Council of Europe.