By Russia’s embassy in Sudan is investigating reports that a cargo plane carrying Russian crew members was shot down in the war-torn Darfur region, amid conflicting claims about the aircraft’s mission and the circumstances of its downing.
The Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76 was reportedly carrying equipment and medicine to the army-held city of el-Fasher when it crashed, according to Sudanese military sources. The Sudan Tribune news website reports all crew members, including three Sudanese nationals and two Russians, were killed in the incident, though this remains unverified.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been battling Sudan’s army since April 2023, claimed Monday it had downed a Russian-made aircraft, though it initially identified it as an Egyptian-operated Antonov accused of bombing civilians. Egypt has repeatedly denied providing military support to Sudan’s army during the 18-month conflict.
Video footage circulating from the alleged crash site shows RSF soldiers displaying what appear to be Russian passports and identification cards near plane wreckage. The paramilitary group claims to have recovered the aircraft’s black box and mission-related documents.
The crash site is reportedly located in the Malha area near the Chad border, en route to el-Fasher – the last army-controlled city in western Darfur, which has been under RSF siege since April. Some reports suggest a technical malfunction may have caused the crash, while others indicate the plane might have been mistakenly targeted.
Adding to the complexity, documents seen in the footage reportedly link the aircraft to an airline previously connected to the United Arab Emirates, which faces allegations of arming the RSF. The UN has cited credible evidence of UAE involvement, though the country denies these claims.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of what UN Special Envoy Tom Perriello estimates as 150,000 deaths since the conflict began. The UN reports over 10 million people – approximately one-fifth of Sudan’s population – have been displaced.
Fighting has recently intensified around Khartoum, where the RSF maintains primary control despite increased military airstrikes in the city’s center and southern areas. Recent diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between the warring parties have failed to make progress.
The Russian embassy in Khartoum says it is coordinating with Sudan’s military-led government to gather more information about the crash and confirm the fate of those aboard.
