Just as authorities are trying to piece together the attack behind Malaysian Airline Flight 17, two Ukranian fighter jets have been shot down. The attack took place in separatist territory, not too far from where Flight 17 was hit out of the air. Since 298 civilians lost their lives, Ukrainian authorities have increased an offensive military pressure against the rebels.
Reports from Kiev indicate confidence in their military’s recent strides against the rebels. They have successfully cut enemy-held territory in half. Still, the downing of two fighter jets proves that their work is cut out for them. The U.S. and other Western powers believe the heavily armed insurgents are continually being provided weapons by Russia. Though rebels took responsibility for Flight 17, Putin is believed to ultimately to have been behind the attack.
Read also: “U.S. Points Finger at Russia Over Malaysia Airlines Flight 17”
Ukrainian security spokesman Col. Andriy Lysenko estimated, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, that the planes were flying at approximately 17,000 feet. He argued that the altitude was too great for rebels to take down the planes with the weapons they currently possess. He believes the attacks came from behind the Russian border, which is not the first accusation of this kind. Russia has firmly denied responsibility for the downed aircraft.
A social media page run by rebel leader Igor Girkin took responsibility for downing the two jets by using MANPAD shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missiles. However, this type of missile is not capable of hitting a target flying at 17,000 feet. The U.S. and Ukraine argue that that plane was brought down by a Buk missile system, which was then smuggled back into Russia after the attack. It is this theory that accompanies most attacks carried out on Ukrainian government planes.
A German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said, “Russia has in the past promised much to defuse the conflict, but has rarely delivered.” A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel explained that they continue to receive reports of Russian weapons streaming across the border. The spokesman also cited the Kremlin’s severe lack of interest in an investigative report into the Malaysian Airlines attack. The European Union has finally agreed to harsher sanctions against Russia.
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