ISTANBUL 

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the crashed military plane in the country’s Belgorod region a week ago was “shot down” by a Patriot air defense system.

“The plane was shot down -- this has already been established for sure -- by the American Patriot (air defense) system. An examination has already established this,” Putin said during a meeting in Moscow.

Expressing that Russia insists on holding an international investigation into the crash, Putin said he did not understand why Ukraine downed the plane.

“The Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down our Il-76 plane, which was carrying 65 of their own servicemen intended for exchange. You asked why they did this. I don’t know. I don’t understand,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of shooting down a plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian servicemen for a prisoner exchange.

The crew and all passengers on the plane were killed, it said, calling it "a terrorist attack" mounted to accuse Russia of killing Ukrainian servicemen.

Ukraine's Defense Intelligence claimed the incident could be a “planned and deliberate” action by Moscow to “destabilize” the situation. It said it currently does not have “reliable and comprehensive information” about who and how many people were onboard.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will insist on an international investigation into the crash.​​​​​​​