Russian Report Points to Ukrainian BUK Missile as Responsible for MH17 Tragedy

Detailed forensic report prepared by Russian engineers points to MH17 being shot down by BUK missile launched from area where Russian satellite places Ukrainian BUK launchers

Alexander Mercouris

Back in December I wrote an article for Russia Insider (MH17: The Facts and the Cover up, Russia Insider, 3rd December 2014) in which I discussed the state of the evidence concerning the shooting down of MH17.

In that article I questioned the obsessive Western focus in tracking down a BUK missile launcher in the militia’s possession given the known presence from Russian satellite data of Ukrainian controlled BUK missile launchers in the same area that were fully capable of shooting MH17 down. 

I pointed out that though the militia’s possession of a fully operable BUK missile launcher in the area is unsubstantiated, the Ukrainian military’s possession of both BUK missile launchers and aircraft capable of shooting MH17 down is undisputed. 

I made it clear that though this does not prove the Ukrainians shot MH17 down, the Western media’s disinterest in what the Ukrainians were up to and failure to explore that possibility was deeply concerning.  

The Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta has now leaked a report prepared by Russian engineers, apparently at the request of the Russian government, which the Russians have apparently provided to the international inquiry.  

On the basis of scientific ballistic analysis the report concludes that MH17 was indeed shot down by a BUK missile, but that it was launched not from militia controlled territory but from territory where the Russian satellite data places Ukrainian BUK missile launchers on the day of the tragedy.

This information is largely consistent with an anonymous report provided shortly after the tragedy to the Saker by someone who clearly has a high degree of technical knowledge and some experience of accident investigation, and to information the US journalist Robert Parry says he was provided immediately after the tragedy by a US intelligence source.

I am not qualified to comment on the latest Russian report.  I do not know whether it is correct or not, though it is by some measure the most detailed analysis of the ballistic evidence I have seen so far.  

I remain of the view that a forensic study of this sort can only take the investigation so far.  The way to get to the truth is for investigators to interrogate those who know - the military on both sides - and to demand to see the records and log books of all the military units involved and the information that was passed up the chain of command.  I remain very concerned that this is not happening.

I am also concerned about the way in which the “SU25 theory” is being presented in some quarters as an “official Russian theory”, when it is no such thing (to my knowledge no branch of the Russian government has ever publicly committed itself to it) or to the attempts that have been made to impose a false binary - SU25 = Ukrainians, BUK = militia - when in reality the evidence shows the Ukrainians had both and fails to prove conclusively that the militia had either.  

I would add (contrary to what some have suggested) that I have been complaining about this false binary ever since the “SU25 theory” first took wings, and I have always been publicly skeptical of this theory, though I lack the technical knowledge to say it is wrong.

In any rational world the latest Russian report ought finally to re focus attention on the Ukrainian BUK missile launchers.  

The international inquiry has publicly called for witnesses to come forward in relation to the supposed movements and smoke trails of the alleged militia controlled BUK launcher.  

That confirms that there is at the moment a dearth of such evidence.  It is now time - in fact it is long overdue - that the attention was re focused elsewhere.

Source: Russia Insider 08-05-2015

Russians will honor memory of those who died in WWII with moment of silence twice on May 9

The anniversary parade in Moscow on May 9 will be one of the most massive events in the history of celebrations

MOSCOW, May 7. /TASS/. Russians will honor the memory of those who died in the Great Patriotic War with a moment of silence twice on Victory Day.

"It is planned that during the parade on Red Square, Russian President Vladimir Putin will announce a moment of silence to honor the memory of all those who died in the Great Patriotic War. On the same day, at 6.55pm Moscow time, all federal TV channels will broadcast a special program ‘In memory of those who died in fight against Nazism’ that will start with a sound of metronome which became the symbol of remembering the victims of that war," the Organizing Committee of 70th anniversary of Victory Day celebrations said on Thursday.

The anniversary parade in Moscow on May 9 will be one of the most massive events in the history of celebrations. Among those who will take part in the parade are 16,000 servicemen, 194 units of ground military equipment, 143 planes and helicopters, including newest equipment of the Airborne Troops, such as BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle, BTR-MD Rakushka armored personnel carrier, Yars intercontinental ballistic missile complex. Models of armored vehicles constructed on the basis of Armata, Kurganets and Bumerang platforms will be part of the mechanized column.

A historic reconstruction is also planned for the parade. Some people will be dressed in uniforms of the times of the Great Patriotic War - infantrymen, sailors, pilots, sappers, cavalrymen and Cossacks.

Military units from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Mongolia, Serbia, China will participate in the parade.

Around 30 foreign leaders and heads of international organizations will take part in the celebrations.

Source: ITAR-TASS 07-05-2015

Hitler's supporters not coming for Victory Parade in Moscow on May 9

Allies of the anti-Hitler coalition have refused to take part in celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory in Moscow. The heads of EU countries also chose to stay away from Russia. Yet, there are powers that stand in solidarity with Russia. All BRICS allies are coming to Moscow for the celebrations. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also took a momentous decision to arrive in the Russian capital. 

For the Western society, boycotting the celebration of the anniversary of victory over Nazism in Moscow is a manifestation of solidarity of the West in relation to Russia. This is just another step that Western leaders take to punish Russia for the reunification with Crimea and the alleged destabilization of Ukraine. For example, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski described the Victory Parade as a provocative show of force. Komorowski even proposed to hold an international ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II with EU leaders on May 8 in Gdansk.

Ukrainian President Poroshenko has already announced that he was going to the conference in Gdansk. French President Francois Hollande has refused to visit both Gdansk and Moscow under the pretext of the need to attend a summit of the Gulf States.

 

Chinese soldiers will march on Red Square 

French journalist Yannick Chauvin believes that this is an offensive gesture for Russia. "Twenty-seven million dead Russians do not deserve a truce? The memory of the joint military operation does not mean approving of Russia's policies," Yannick Chauvin wrote  in the Boulevard Voltaire. According to the journalist, the Chinese leader is going to attend the Victory Parade in Moscow. Chinese soldiers will march on Red Square as well. Chauvin asks a rhetorical question wondering, whom the Russians will sympathize while choosing between the ever-preaching West and the strong East.

Needless to say anything about Barack Obama and David Cameron at this point. The Anglo-Saxon brotherhood considers Russia its "number one enemy." German leader Angela Merkel said that she would come on May 10th. In Germany, people say that it was a wise decision to make. That is to say, "the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe." Agreed.

According to The Financial Times, every Western leader, who refused to come to Moscow for the Victory Parade, should regret their decision. They should remember that the USSR's contribution to the destruction of Nazi Germany is greater than the contribution of any other nation, the newspaper said.  The leaders of Western countries chose to ignore the memory of WWII in favor of short-term political expediency.

 

Does the West understand Russia's sacrifice in WWII?

The Independent columnist Mary Dejevsky believes that the West has thus lost yet another opportunity to improve relations with Russia. According to Dejevsky, the Russians wonder whether the West understands the sacrifice that Russia made 70 years ago. 

"It was the British, Americans and Russians who saved Europe in 1945 and what an ingratitude to boycott the 70th anniversary of that Victory,"  Yves Pozzo di Borgo, deputy chairman of the French Senate's commission on international affairs, defense and the armed forces, tweeted on Sunday.

The origins of this ingratitude are apparent. "Today, we can see not only attempts to distort events of the war, but also cynical and brazen lies to discredit a whole generation of people who did everything for this victory, who defended peace on earth," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the meeting of the organizing committee for May holidays. "Their goal is clear: to undermine both Russia's power and moral authority and use historical speculations in their geopolitical games," Putin added. 

Analyzing the list of those who will come to Moscow, one can conclude that Russia has allies, and one can talk about their solidarity with Russia. For example, this is Serbian leader Tomislav Nikolic, who was outraged with attempts of the European Parliament to instruct others on what to do. Latin American leaders have been Russia's close allies during the recent years. Nicolas Maduro and Raul Castro are coming to Moscow. 

The BRICS countries are sending a clear message to Russia, which is especially important on the eve of a very important summit in Ufa in early July. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, President of India Pranab Mukherjee, South African President Jacob Zuma and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff are coming to Moscow for the celebrations. 

"The visit of President Mukeredzhi is a well thought-out decision. This is an expression of solidarity with Russia and with Mr. Putin for everything they have done and continue doing for us," a spokesman for the President of India told The Hindu newspaper. 

"Those who will not be in Moscow on May 9, 2015 for Victory Parade are supporters of Hitler. This puts things into place quickly," Sergei Filatov, a columnist for International Life magazine told Pravda.Ru. Apparently, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who previously was considered a puppet of the United States, has made his choice too. 

"Ban Ki-moon perhaps shares our beliefs and principles of Russia's international relations, including, attempts to rehabilitate Nazism, fascism and all forms of extremism, - Leonid Savin, chief editor of Geopolitics publication told Pravda.Ru. - Accordingly, his personal opinion as of the head of the United Nations and a person is very important to us."

Noteworthy, the leader of the United Nations is the leader of the "civilized" West. If a part of the pack does not support its leader, then the latter should either prove his power or be toppled. Which option seems preferable to the reader?

Lyuba Lulko

Pravda.Ru  

Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru

Source: English Pravda 06-05-2015

Ukrainian forces use heavy artillery for bombardments — Donetsk defence ministry

Earlier, the Donetsk Republic’s Defence Ministry said Kiev’s forces had violated ceasefire 40 times over the previous 24 hours

MOSCOW, May 5. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces systematically use heavy artillery for bombardments of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, mostly in the evening, the spokesman for the republic’s Defence Ministry, Eduard Basurin, said on Tuesday.

"The Ukrainian forces continue to use heavy artillery primarily in the evening, in defiance of the Minsk Accords. However, the Donetsk Forces display restraint and refrain from reacting to provocations," he said.

Earlier, the Donetsk Republic’s Defence Ministry said Kiev’s forces had violated ceasefire 40 times over the 
previous 24 hours.

"The most active artillery, mortar and tank gun fire attacks were mounted on the villages of Shirokino, Sakhanka and Gorlovka, where 20 explosions of 152 mm shells, 36 explosions of tank gun-fired shells and 90 explosions of 120 mm and 82 mm mortar shells have been registered," the Donetsk News Agency quotes Basurin as saying.

He acknowledged that the situation in the republic remained complicated and strained. In the 40 registered bombardments of the Donetsk Republic’s territory Kiev’s forces fired a total of 220 shots (with artillery pieces, mortars, tanks armoured personnel carriers, grenade launchers and small arms), mostly with mortars (141 shots).

One militiaman was injured, Basurin said.

Source: ITAR-TASS 05-05-2015