Khartoum, Sudan – Russia’s embassy in Sudan is investigating reports that a cargo plane with a Russian crew was shot down in Darfur, where intense fighting continues between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The plane, identified as a Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76, was reportedly delivering equipment and medicine to the army-held city of El-Fasher, according to military sources cited by Sudanese media.
On Monday, the RSF claimed responsibility for downing a Russian-made plane, initially identified as an Antonov, accusing it of being flown by the Egyptian military and targeting civilians. Egypt, however, denies allegations of providing military support to Sudan’s army during the ongoing 18-month conflict.
The civil war between Sudan’s military and the RSF erupted in April 2023, triggering what the United Nations has described as one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The conflict has resulted in an estimated 150,000 deaths and displaced over 10 million people, according to the UN and reports from international observers.
Conflicting Reports on the Downed Aircraft
Details surrounding the downed aircraft remain unclear. The Russian embassy in Khartoum confirmed it is working with Sudan’s military-led government to gather more information about the incident. Reports from the Sudan Tribune suggest that all crew members, including three Sudanese nationals and two Russians, were killed in the crash near the Malha area, close to the border with Chad. However, this information has yet to be independently verified.
El-Fasher, a key stronghold for the Sudanese army in western Darfur, has been under sustained attack from the RSF since April. The RSF claims to have retrieved the plane’s black box and seized documents related to the plane and its mission.
Footage circulating online, allegedly from the crash site, shows RSF soldiers with identification documents next to the wreckage. Among the items were a Russian passport, a job identification card from Manas Airport in Kyrgyzstan, and two South African driver’s licenses linked to a single individual. Preliminary analysis suggests the individual may have been a Russian military academy graduate residing in South Africa.
One video, purportedly from the crash scene, shows an RSF fighter holding a 50-rouble Russian note, though the authenticity of the footage remains uncertain.
Ongoing Conflict and Escalating Violence
Reports are conflicting as to the cause of the crash. Some suggest a technical fault, while both the Sudanese military and the RSF claim the plane was shot down. There are also indications that the aircraft may have been mistakenly targeted due to its alleged affiliation with an airline previously linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE denies any involvement in arming the RSF, although the United Nations has cited credible evidence suggesting otherwise.
The downing of the plane comes as fighting intensifies in Sudan, particularly around the capital, Khartoum. The RSF controls much of the city, while the military has stepped up airstrikes. In the RSF-held city of Wad Madani, over 50 people have been killed since Sunday, with local activists accusing the military of using banned barrel bombs in civilian areas.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between the rival forces have so far failed, leaving Sudan’s humanitarian crisis unresolved and the violence escalating.
