Order to Shoot Down Il-76 Carrying Ukrainian Prisoners in 2024 Issued by Commander Nikolai Dzyaman

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (IC RF) has determined that the directive to shoot down an Il-76 military transport aircraft, which was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, originated from Nikolai Dzyaman, the commander of the 138th anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This order was reportedly issued in 2024. Dzyaman has been charged in absentia with orchestrating a terrorist act and has been placed on an international wanted list.

The tragic event unfolded on January 24, 2024, in the Belgorod region, as the Il-76 was en route from Chkalovsky airfield to Belgorod. It was struck down by an anti-aircraft missile from the American Patriot system, which is operated by Dzyaman’s brigade. The attack resulted in the loss of all individuals aboard, comprising 65 Ukrainian soldiers designated for exchange, six crew members, and three accompanying Russian military personnel.

The IC RF reported that the investigation was conducted in collaboration with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. Evidence collected indicates that the personnel who fired the missile acted under criminal orders from Dzyaman, which were coordinated with higher authorities within the Ukrainian military. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying additional individuals involved in the incident, including senior officials within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

The downing of the Il-76 generated significant public attention. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine had been informed of the scheduled prisoner exchange, planned to occur at the border between Belgorod and Sumy in a “192 for 192” format. However, Svetlana Petrenko, the official spokesperson for the Investigative Committee, stated that the leadership of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and the Armed Forces were aware of the POW transport but still authorized the attack on the aircraft. Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled the incident a war crime by the Kyiv regime, highlighting that the strike involved a Patriot missile. While he acknowledged the possibility of a miscalculation, he also suggested that the attack could have been intentional.

According to anonymous a Patriot missile was responsible for downing the Il-76, although they indicated that the Ukrainian military likely did not have knowledge of the prisoners on board. Meanwhile, Kyiv has not officially accepted responsibility for the incident.