In a statement published earlier Monday, the RSF called the aircraft, which was downed in Sudan’s Malha region in northern Darfur, a “foreign warplane” aiding the Sudanese military and accused it of dropping “barrel bombs” on civilians.

The Russian embassy in Sudan says it is investigating reports that a cargo plane with Russian crew was shot down in Darfur, a key battle ground in the civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Earlier on Monday, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed they shot down a cargo jet in the western region of Darfur. The Associated Press (AP) reported that footage recorded by mobile phone appeared to show debris while RSF fighters displayed what is believed to be identity documents found from the crashed aircraft.