The UN Security Council has convened an emergency session to discuss the crash of a Russian military aircraft that Moscow claims was carrying Ukrainians for a prisoner swap.

Russia argues that Ukraine shot down the airplane, while Ukraine blames Russia for its failure to ensure the safety of the captives in Russian territory.

UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo spoke at the beginning of the meeting that was held at Russia's request. She said the United Nations is not in a position to verify the circumstances of the crash.

The Russian deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said Ukrainian missiles shot down the plane. He blamed Ukraine for killing its own people.

Ukraine's deputy UN envoy, Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, said that since the plane went down in Russian territory, Ukraine did not have access to it. She then insisted the call for an international investigation.

A Russian military plane that took off from an Air Force base near Moscow crashed on Wednesday in the western region of Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 74 people on board, including the Russian crew and Ukrainian soldiers who had been held captive, were dead.