A cargo plane—an Il-76—was reportedly shot down in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan. There are claims that Russian citizens may have been on board. This information comes from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group involved in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
The conflict in Sudan has been intense since 2023, with two main sides fighting: the Sudanese Sovereign Council and the RSF. Just recently, the RSF announced that they were halting peace talks with the government and instead are determined to win through battle.
The Russian embassy in Khartoum has acknowledged the RSF’s claims about the downed plane, saying they are taking steps to investigate the situation with local authorities. The situation is tricky because the crash site is located in Darfur, an area deeply affected by the conflict.
Images and videos shared on social media from the crash site show the wreckage of what seems to be the Il-76 plane and even a Russian passport. Another video features a corporate ID card from a UAE-based company linked to a person with a Russian name. This card mentions Manas International Airport, located in Kyrgyzstan, hinting at possible connections.
Ali ‘Savannah’ Rizkallah, a commander of the RSF in North Darfur, appeared in one video saying his forces used “guided missiles” to bring down the plane. Interestingly, he called it an “Egyptian Antonov,” but it seems the aircraft was actually an Il-76.
Tensions are high, with the Sovereign Council accusing the UAE of smuggling weapons to the RSF. The UAE denies these claims, stating that their flights were meant to deliver supplies to help a field hospital treating Sudanese refugees.
Since April 2023, the RSF has been in rebellion against the Sovereign Council, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. A recent report from a UN fact-finding mission has revealed that the conflict has caused tremendous suffering—tens of thousands of people have died or been injured, nearly eight million have been forced from their homes, and two million have fled to neighboring countries. The UN describes the humanitarian situation in Sudan as one of the worst in the world.
As the investigation continues, the implications of this incident could have far-reaching effects, both for Sudan and for international relations involving Russia.
