Jan 24: A Russian military plane carrying 74 people has crashed in the Belgorod region, officials said according to media reports.

Russian news agencies citing the Defense Ministry said 65 of those on board were Ukrainian servicemen who were being flown to Belgorod ahead of a prisoner swap. CNN cannot independently verify this claim.

In addition, there were six crew members and three “accompanying personnel” on board the IL-76.

The cause of the crash is not yet known.

The Kremlin declined to comment on the reported crash. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “This is quite new information, we will now deal with it. I can’t say anything yet.”

Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said “an investigative team and Emergency Situations Ministry employees are currently working at the scene. I changed my work schedule and went to the area. All details later.”

Gladkov said the “incident” took place in the Korochansky district of the Belgorod region, northeast of Belgorod City.