A total of 18 Russian IL-76 transport planes have taken off from Pskov in Russia and are expected to arrive in Kyiv very soon, reports the investigative journalist group Bellingcat.
“Sources in the Ukrainian government told me that 18 IL-76 transport planes took off from Pskov in the direction of Kyiv and will arrive in the capital in an hour”, Bellingcat CEO Christo Grozev wrote on Twitter.
“The only possible explanation will be that the Russians intend to capture and conquer Kyiv in order to establish a puppet government today [Feb. 24].”
IL-76 planes can transport up to 90 soldiers at a time, meaning the Russians could expect up to an additional 1,620 soldiers.
The Russians had spent hours trying to take Hostomel Airport on the outskirts of Kyiv, but were bravely repelled by the Ukrainian armed forces.
Bellingcat made a name for itself by identifying Russian officers behind such high profile cases as the downing of MH-17 and the poisoning of Russian dissident Sergei Skripal.
