DISINFO: Russia not guilty of MH17 case because plane was hit over Ukraine
SUMMARY
Appeals to Russia to accept responsibility for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight МН17 are inadmissible and inappropriate because the plane was hit over Ukrainian territory.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets, denying Russia's responsibility for shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Donbas on 17 July 2014 and blaming Ukraine for that.
In reality, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has come up with enough evidence of direct Russian involvement in shooting down this civilian plane. The JIT announced in September 2016 that the plane was shot down by a missile from the BUK 9M38 series, which was launched by a BUK TELAR missile system. In May 2018, the JIT announced its conclusion that the missile which shot down the plane came from Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade. It is stationed in the Kursk Region bordering Ukraine.
Three Russians and one Ukrainian are being tried in the Netherlands in absentia for their complicity in shooting down the plane. Although the proceedings are still underway, there is nothing that confirms Ukraine’s responsibility. All facts prove Russia’s direct involvement.
Read more disinformation reports about the MH17 disaster.