A missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine nearly four years ago was fired from a launcher belonging to Russia’s 53rd anti-aircraft brigade.
Westerbeke highlighted how « this raises questions such as to whether the brigade was actively involved in downing MH17. It is an important question which the JIT are still investigating. »
A total of 298 people from 17 countries died when the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was brought down in eastern Ukraine in July 2014.
An update posted online by investigators Thursday said the JIT was « convinced » that the Buk TELAR (transporter erector launcher and radar) used to down MH17 originated from the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Kursk in Russia.
The team’s conclusion was based on « extensive comparative research » that identified characteristics particular to that individual Buk launcher.
The team has also called for witnesses and members of the public to come forward to help identify anyone involved in operating the missile system.
« The authorities of the Russian Federation have, up to now, not reported to the JIT that a Buk of the 53rd brigade was deployed in Eastern Ukraine and that this Buk downed flight MH17, » Westerbeke said.
« On 15 October 2014 the JIT already asked the Russian authorities to provide the JIT (in line with resolution 2166 of the UN Security Council) with all information that may be important for establishing the truth.
« Because the JIT no longer wants to exclusively turn to the Russian authorities to obtain information about this subject, the JIT also calls in the assistance from the public today — through the media — to answer questions that relate to the control of and the use of the Buk TELAR, as well as about the missile that was launched with that TELAR. »
