Russia claims bodies of Il-76 crash victims given to Ukraine; Kyiv conducts examinations

Russia has transferred the remains of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) allegedly killed in a plane crash over Russia’s Belgorod Oblast in January, Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova claimed in an interview with state-run RIA Novosti on Dec. 9.

The crash involved a Russian Il-76 military cargo plane on Jan. 24, with the cause of the incident still unclear. Moscow alleged that 65 Ukrainian POWs were aboard the plane during the fatal crash. Ukraine, however, has not confirmed this claim and has called for an international investigation—an appeal Russia has refused.

According to Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of POWs, Russia handed over several bodies during a recent exchange. Efforts to identify these remains are currently underway.

“During the latest repatriation activities, the remains of the deceased were transferred to Ukraine from [Russia], but they require additional identification,” Yatsenko said. In late November, Ukraine had repatriated the bodies of 502 fallen soldiers.

“Specialized institutions are now working to determine whether these remains indeed belong to Ukrainian service members, as part of ongoing criminal proceedings,” Yatsenko added.

Unconfirmed reports from U.S. officials, as cited by the New York Times in February, suggested that the U.S.-made Patriot missile system might have been responsible for the plane’s downing. The officials also indicated that the plane likely carried at least some Ukrainian prisoners.

While Ukraine has refrained from commenting directly on the crash's cause, its military intelligence agency has suggested the Il-76 may have been transporting arms and ammunition along with Ukrainian POWs, potentially using the prisoners as human shields.

Since the crash, Ukraine has repeatedly urged Russia to return the bodies of its fallen soldiers.

Putin will agree to negotiations when Ukraine can defend itself - German opposition leader

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany's opposition and a candidate for Chancellor representing the CDU/CSU (Union) parliamentary group, visited Kyiv on December 9 as part of a working trip. During his visit, Merz highlighted that the war in Ukraine must end as soon as possible and expressed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin would only agree to negotiate peace when Ukraine demonstrates its ability to defend itself effectively.

He explained that his visit aimed to gain firsthand insight into the situation in Ukraine and to assess how Germany could further support the country in its efforts against Russian aggression.

Russians hit thermal power plant in Donetsk Oblast, workers killed and injured

On the morning of December 9, Russian forces launched an attack on a thermal power facility in Donetsk Oblast, resulting in casualties and injuries, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy on Telegram.

The attack claimed the life of Volodymyr Kiliarov, a fitter at the station, who was born in 1959. Two other employees of the facility were wounded in the strike.

In response to the damage caused by the bombardment, Ukrenergo implemented emergency blackouts across Donetsk Oblast.

In November, Russia seized five times more territory than in the entire year of 2023

According to Ua War Infographics, Russian troops made significant territorial gains last month, surpassing the figures for all of 2023 by almost five times. This indicates a significant intensification of hostilities and active attempts by the aggressor to change the situation in its favor.

Russia uses American online store to buy weapons components

Russia has reportedly established a covert supply chain to acquire American microchips and semiconductors, vital for its weapons production, through online platforms linked to Texas Instruments (TI). Russian distributors are said to mirror product data from the TI store’s online marketplace onto their websites, such as Getchips.ru and Altchips.ru, where TI products are sold at a 40% markup. While TI denies providing API access to Russian companies, reports suggest that Russian portals replicate product information using intermediary systems, though the source remains unidentified.

The supply chain relies heavily on intermediaries in Hong Kong, including Sure Technology, Chipower Electronics, and Horsway Tech, who facilitate transactions and arrange shipments through logistics companies like Sea Global SCM or the Russian airline Aeroflot. Russian government approval is required for these acquisitions, with purchases routed through intermediate countries. By August 2024, Russian distributors processed over 4,000 orders of TI goods, worth $6 million, with a significant portion designated for military enterprises.

Texas Instruments components have been identified in Russian weapons, including Kinzhal missiles and to review and cancel suspicious orders rigorously, underlining the critical role these microchips play in sustaining Russia's military capabilities. Despite accusations of lax oversight in online sales, TI claims to rigorously review and cancel suspicious orders. However, this case highlights how Western technology continues to appear in Russian weaponry, with TI accounting for 14% of over 4,000 Western-made components found in Russian arms since the start of the full-scale war.