New details about the “Ilyushin” plane .. and “Kyrgyzstan” exposes the “remnants” media, and the “army’s” silence about the downing of the plane and the “Russian” mercenaries
Blue News: Media Agencies
The incident of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) downing a military “Ilyushin 76” aircraft in the Al-Malha area of North Darfur, in the early hours of Monday, October 21, has reignited questions about the role of mercenaries in the Sudanese war, particularly Russian mercenaries. Kyrgyzstan was also drawn into the issue after a wave of media misinformation about the plane’s ownership and which parties it was serving.
Incident Details
Pro-army media outlets claimed that the plane did not belong to the Sudanese military, asserting that it had been rented by the UAE from a Kyrgyz company for the RSF and was shot down by mistake due to poor coordination within the forces. However, this claim was later proven to be misleading. Kyrgyzstan, through its government aviation authority, exposed the falsehood of this narrative, confirming that the plane had been deregistered from its civil aircraft registry earlier in the year after it was sold to the Sudanese government.
Kyrgyzstan’s Announcement
In an official statement, the Civil Aviation Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic, under the Council of Ministers, declared that the aircraft with registration number EX-76011 had been removed from the country’s civil aircraft registry on January 12, after it had been sold to the Government of Sudan. This announcement confirmed that the plane was officially under the Sudanese military’s control at the time of its downing, contradicting the initial claims made by pro-army sources, which had been widely circulated.
*Details of the Crew and the Aircraft*
The Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs also provided important information regarding the aircraft, stating that the travel document found at the crash site belonged to a Russian citizen named “Viktor Granov,” who was an employee of the Airline Transport Incorporation FZC, not of the “Manas” company affiliated with Bishkek Airport in Kyrgyzstan. This evidence reinforces the long-standing rumors that the Sudanese military has been employing Russian mercenaries in its war and has rekindled its old relationship with the Wagner Group (currently known as the African Legion). This also raises further suspicions about mercenary support for the Sudanese army in the conflict that has been ongoing since April 15 of last year.
Kyrgyz Embassy Demands Investigations
In a further development, the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in Saudi Arabia requested information from authorities in Port Sudan through diplomatic channels regarding the incident. The embassy emphasized that no Kyrgyz citizens were aboard the aircraft, highlighting the international dimension of the incident.
RSF Statement
In an official statement, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) confirmed yesterday that they had successfully downed an “Ilyushin 76” aircraft using their air defenses. The RSF provided evidence, including photos of the wreckage and charred bodies, along with documents and identification papers, including a Russian passport, and displayed the aircraft’s black box.
Media Misinformation
In an attempt to justify the incident, the “Sudan War Monitor,” a site suspected of being linked to activist Amjad Farid—known for his close ties to Sudanese security agencies and his current work with military intelligence in supporting the Sudanese army’s war propaganda—published a misleading narrative. The site claimed that the plane did not belong to the Sudanese military but was instead coming from the UAE carrying military supplies for the RSF and was shot down by mistake due to a lack of coordination among field commanders. This misinformation was quickly spread by pro-army media outlets before the truth emerged, confirming that the plane was on a military mission for the Sudanese army.
Testimonies and Additiona Information
According to a military source at the airbase in Port Sudan, the “Ilyushin 76” aircraft had taken off on a military mission heading to El Fasher, where it dropped military supplies, including weapons, ammunition, and medical supplies for the army forces besieged within the Sixth Infantry Division. On its return journey, it was shot down by the air defenses of the Rapid Support Forces in the Al-Malha area. The source confirmed that the aircraft was carrying five individuals, including the Russian pilot “Victor Granov” and his co-pilot, who is also of Russian nationality, along with three members of the Sudanese Air Force: Colonel Pilot Al-Moaiz Omar Abshir, aviation engineer Babiker Al-Sayed Gadora, and technical assistant Sufyan Khalafallah. All five lost their lives, and their bodies were found at the crash site, charred and dismembered.
:Conclusion
The incident of the downing of the “Ilyushin 76” aircraft highlights the involvement of mercenaries and international actors in this war. It also reveals the extent of media deception practiced by certain parties, underscoring the urgent need to stop this war, which is driven by the Sudanese Islamic Movement, known for its extensive connections with militant groups in the region and its close ties to Iran. This situation contributes to the prolongation of the war, exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe, and poses a threat to international peace and security in the near future.
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