Russia and Ukraine are embroiled in a war of words following the tragic crash of a Russian military transport plane near the Ukrainian border. Moscow claims the plane was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war and was shot down by Ukrainian forces with two missiles. Ukrainian officials have not explicitly denied shooting down the plane but cast doubt on Russia's claim that prisoners of war were on board. They demand a transparent international investigation into the incident. The conflicting narratives from both sides have further escalated tensions in a war that is now nearing the end of its second year.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the incident as a "totally monstrous act," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of "playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners." The Ukrainian SBU security service has opened a criminal investigation into the crash, and Zelenskiy has called for an international probe. The cause of the crash remains unknown, but the crash site has been difficult to access, hampering any potential investigation.

Both Russia and Ukraine have presented their own theories about the incident, and conflicting accounts have become a daily occurrence in the protracted conflict. The incident has amplified the information war between Russia and Ukraine, as both sides continue to trade accusations and attempt to shape the narrative around the tragic crash. But with no clear evidence provided by either side, the truth behind the crash remains shrouded in uncertainty.