Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine on Friday in his first public reaction following the crash of the Russian Il-76 aircraft in the Belgorod region. The air defence system on Ukrainian-controlled territory had shot down the Ilyushin with two missiles, Putin said in St Petersburg at a meeting with military representatives. The Ukrainian side had known in advance that 65 of their prisoners of war were on board. The plane crashed on Wednesday. Ukraine disputes the Russian claims and has called for an independent investigation. “What happened is a crime,” Putin stressed. He called for …