MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian side was aware that Russia would use an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane on Wednesday to transport Ukrainian service members for an exchange, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The Ukrainian leadership knew perfectly well that according to the established practice, Ukrainian service members would be transported by a military transport plane to the Belgorod airfield for the exchange today," the ministry said.
"Under an earlier agreement, this event was to take place in the afternoon at the Kolotilovka checkpoint on the Russian-Ukrainian border," the ministry said.
Kiev is pursuing "the goal of accusing Russia of killing Ukrainian troops" through such actions, it said.
"By committing this terrorist attack, the Ukrainian leadership has shown its true face, as it has disregarded the lives of its citizens," the ministry said.