If it’s a Ukrainian plane, then it’s more likely carrying American weapons to the highest bidder.
Zactly.
That would be no. The Ukranians ended up with the Antonov plant and a great deal of what used to be the Soviet Union’s transport air fleet after the collapse of the latter - so they went into business as charter air transport. Ukranian registered cargo aircraft make up a significant percentage of for-hire world air cargo transport and they fly all over the world.
Being an old Cold War vet, I remember a number of conflicts and incidents where we tested our weapons systems in real time. The Ukraine is starting to look like a Russian and USA test run of weapon systems. Reading between the lines, If the propaganda is true, Russian is burning through stock piles of old munitions while the USA is testing its new military tech. Russia gets rid of outdated munitions that are costly to maintain, while developing countermeasures to newer western tech. We will sell the tech and make billions, they sell the countermeasures and make billions. Cold War 2.0