The Specter Of MH17 Is Looming Large Over The Ukrainian Plane Crash Probe In Iran – BuzzFeed News
Ukraines president has posted a plea on Facebook and Twitter asking the United States, Iran, and Canada to share whatever evidence they have to suggest that Iran shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet that crashed on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.
The request came after US intelligence officials were quoted in the media as saying that Iran had accidentally downed the plane shortly after it took off from the capital, Tehran.
Ukraine is interested in the truth. We ask all our international partners to assist the investigation and provide any relevant evidence that they may have, Volodymyr Zelensky's office said, following phone calls with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
A Ukrainian official involved in internal discussions in Kyiv told BuzzFeed News that Zelensky made the public plea because the US had not yet shown him the evidence it claims to have about the crash. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at the time of publishing this article that, to his knowledge, Ukraine had still not been shown any evidence by the US.
In a press conference, Trudeau made clear his belief that the plane had been shot down and called for a "thorough investigation."
Zelenskys spokesperson didnt answer a call for comment. Another administration official declined to say whether the president had been contacted by the Trump administration or anyone in the US government ahead of the media reports citing US officials.
A Ukrainian diplomat said he had reached out to his US counterparts but hadnt received any information by the time this article was published. Another Ukrainian diplomat echoed what Zelensky said in a video address released earlier on Thursday: that the sensitive nature of the issue should be treated with caution and that its important that the governments statements are based on facts rather than conjecture.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, DC, on Thursday, President Trump said he suspected the plane crash wasn't due to mechanical problems. Asked what he thought brought down the plane, he said, "Well, I have my suspicions."
"It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood," he said. "They could've made a mistake. Some people say it was mechanical. I personally don't think that's even a question."
He added, "Something very terrible happened, very devastating."
For Kyiv, the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crash strikes a tragic, familiar chord because it so closely resembles the confusing moments following Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 being shot down by a Russian missile system over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 passengers and crew members in 2014.
The two scenarios are remarkably similar: A commercial airliner carrying scores of civilians falls from the sky in a ball of flames, sparking tensions in a corner of the world fraught with geopolitical dangers. In the aftermath, the country in possession of the black boxes says it wont share them, raising eyebrows about the cause of the plane crash. Conspiracy theories and speculation, fueled by confusing government statements and low-res photographs from the crash site, swirl as local authorities on the ground and open-source investigators working from their desks at home begin combing through the evidence. And then, the media carries comments from unnamed US intelligence officials who havent reached out to the Ukrainian government and who say the plane appears to have been shot down by a Russian-made air defense system by accident.
Flight 17 was shot down on July 17, 2014, at the height of Russias war against Ukraine. As the Ukrainian armed forces moved to retake key cities in the countrys eastern region that summer, they had Russias military forces and separatist militias on the run. Then Moscow smuggled its big guns into Ukraine, including a Buk surface-to-air missile system. It was a turning point in the war, and it galvanized much of the international community against Russia. A team of international experts investigating the case has since documented Russias involvement and said the incident seemed to have been a case of military error. The experts alleged that whoever fired the Buk missile that downed the plane probably thought they were aiming at a military aircraft and not a civilian airliner. Four men have been charged for their alleged involvement.
In the case of Flight 752, the crash over Tehran came as the US and Iran seemed like they might be veering dangerously toward war. Hours before, Tehran launched missile strikes against US forces in Iraq in retaliation for the US missile attack that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Before news of the US intelligence broke, Kyivs top national security official said on Thursday that the country was investigating whether Iran accidentally shot down the plane using a Russian-made missile. He said this even as Zelensky released a video urging against speculation until there is more evidence.
Overnight, Zelenskys office said a 45-person team of officials and investigators, including those who worked on the downing of Flight 17, had arrived in Iran to investigate the crash of Flight 752. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraines National Security Council, wrote on Facebook that Kyiv was negotiating with Iran to allow its experts access to the crash site southwest of Tehran where the 3-year-old Boeing plane exploded after striking the ground just minutes after takeoff.
Danilov specifically said Ukraine wanted to search the crash site for fragments from a Russian-made Tor anti-aircraft missile after seeing photographs shared on social media that purported to show the tip of a Tor missile near the site. BuzzFeed News couldnt reach him to ask whether he had viewed an unverified video shared on social media that purported to show the moment a missile struck the plane. But the Ukrainian official who said Zelensky had not yet seen the US evidence of a missile attack said his colleagues were reviewing the video.
Danilov said the team would consider seven theories in all, four of which he made public. Those include a missile strike, a midair collision with a drone or another flying object, and an engine explosion due to mechanical failure.
We will use everything we learned investigating the attack on the MH17 Boeing to establish the truth in the case of the crash of the Ukrainian plane in Tehran, Danilov wrote on Facebook.
In the aftermath of the plane crash, theres been a flurry of accusations and counteraccusations.
Iranian officials first claimed the plane crashed because of technical failure following a fire, but refused to hand over the black boxes found at the crash site to Boeing. Earlier on Thursday, Western media cited intelligence sources who suggested a technical problem triggered the crash. But rumors swirled of the crash possibly being the result of a missile attack.
Then reports citing Western intelligence officials surfaced later in the day, saying a Russian-made missile fired by Iran was the cause of the crash. In response, the head of Irans Civil Aviation Organization dismissed what he called illogical rumors about the Ukrainian airliner being hit by a missile, Reuters reported, citing the state-run Iranian Students News Agency.
Scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumors are illogical, Ali Abedzadeh told ISNA.
The saga has weighed heavily on the people of Ukraine, who have seen their country get entangled in two accidental downings of passenger jets in less than six years. The country continues to find itself at the center of the Trump impeachment saga dragging on in Washington.
Summarizing Kyivs frustration, Ukrainian journalist Kristina Berdynskykh tweeted: Ukraine fell into a whirlpool and cant get out of it. First, Ukraine was dragged into US internal politics [with the impeachment saga]. Now, if the information is confirmed, the Ukrainian plane in Iran was shot down by a Russian missile. I dont even know what to expect next.
See the article here:
The Specter Of MH17 Is Looming Large Over The Ukrainian Plane Crash Probe In Iran - BuzzFeed News
- Russia issues school textbook saying it was 'forced' to march into Ukraine - Reuters - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Russia introduces history textbook that redefines war against Ukraine as justified defense. - Kyiv Independent - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Bad Things Happened: Trump Still Doesnt Understand the Ukraine War - The Bulwark - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Russia says its troops have captured a strategic town in eastern Ukraine - The Associated Press - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- NATO chief: Cost of Russian victory in Ukraine would be trillions not billions - Atlantic Council - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- For Russian Forces In Ukraine, Its Now Normal To Ride Into Battle In A Compact Car - Forbes - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Opinion: Trump promised to end the Ukraine war, but neither side is ready - Los Angeles Times - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Putin echoes Trump's claim that conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided had he been in office - The Associated Press - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Russia says it sees no signs that Ukraine and the West are ready for peace talks despite all statements - Reuters - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Zelenskiy says Trump could end Ukraine war only if Kyiv included in talks - Reuters - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- War in Ukraine: EU to Agree to Extend Russia Sanctions, Hungary to Back Down - Bloomberg - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Letters: Stop the fireworks; angry about McCoy story; end war in Ukraine - VC Star - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Ready to Transit Gas From Azerbaijan - Bloomberg - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Why peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are not as simple as Trump makes out - The Independent - January 27th, 2025 [January 27th, 2025]
- Trump tells Putin to end 'ridiculous war' in Ukraine or face new sanctions - BBC.com - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Ukraine-Russia latest: Putin ready for Trump negotiations as Kyiv sets oil refinery ablaze with drone strike - The Independent - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Ukraine is reforming its recruitment efforts to attract younger soldiers and boost forces - The Associated Press - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Europe considers sending troops to Ukraine if theres a ceasefire. But would Russia accept? - The Associated Press - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Opinion: I spent Trumps inauguration in Ukraine. This is what I saw. - Salt Lake Tribune - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Putin claims Ukraine crisis may have been averted if Trump was president - CNN - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Did Ukraine Kill Its Own by Downing a Russian Plane? A Year Later, It Hasnt Said. - The New York Times - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Russia claims its troops are in the last stages of taking another eastern Ukraine town - The Associated Press - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Ukraine Is Losing Fewer Soldiers Than Russia but Its Still Losing the War - The New York Times - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Does Putin know why Ukraine fights on? Because we prize freedom above stability and wealth | Andrey Kurkov - The Guardian - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Russia rejects idea of NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine, warning of "uncontrollable escalation" - Reuters - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Trump's threat against Moscow on Ukraine seen as an insulting false start by some in Russia - NBC News - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- UKs 100-year partnership with Ukraine is a meaningless political stunt - Al Jazeera English - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Putin says he and Trump should meet to discuss Ukraine and energy prices - Reuters - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Putin ready for negotiations with Trump on Ukraine war - The Guardian - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- US arms exports hit record in 2024 on Ukraine-related demand - Reuters - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- This Ones Mine. Ukraine Says Russia Is Executing More POWs and Capturing It on Video. - The Wall Street Journal - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Russia Brushes Off Trumps Threats on Ukraine - The Wall Street Journal - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Russia: Nothing new in Trump threats on Moscows war on Ukraine - VOA Asia - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Video: The Kremlin responds to Trump calling on Putin to make a deal with Ukraine - CNN - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- To end the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump will need to get leverage - The Hill - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Ukraine's Kursk invasion was a risky play, but it might have nailed the timing - Business Insider - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Trump leans in on targeting Russian oil revenue as he tries to fulfill pledge to end Ukraine war - The Associated Press - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- 'He shouldn't have done that': Donald Trump criticizes Ukraine president over war - USA TODAY - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Putin open for talks with Trump over Ukraine war and calls for leaders to meet - The Independent - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Business elites truly believe Trump could be on the verge of solving one of the world's most difficult problems: The Ukraine War - New York Post - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Kyiv investigates another case of Russian soldiers executing Ukraine POWs - POLITICO Europe - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Ukrainian winemaker and US veterans team up to show the best of Ukraine, a glass at a time - The Associated Press - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Is Trump changing tack on ending the war in Ukraine? - The Conversation Indonesia - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Shared Challenges: Israel Considers Sending Russian Weapons Seized From Hezbollah to Ukraine - Foundation for Defense of Democracies - January 26th, 2025 [January 26th, 2025]
- Ukrainian troops say inexperienced North Koreans are making easy targets - The Washington Post - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Ukraine says it has laser weapon able to down targets flying at over 2km - Yahoo! Voices - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Berlin eyes role in Ukraine peace deal but says too early for decisions - Reuters - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Keep Ukraine Out of Talks to End Its War - Foreign Policy - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Ukraine and US say some North Korean troops have been killed fighting alongside Russian forces - The Associated Press - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Russia aims to win the war in Ukraine in 2025, top official says - Semafor - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Trump suggests reversing permission for Ukraine to use US missiles in Russia - The Telegraph - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Trump to Europe: Overseeing a Ukraine Cease-Fire Would Be Your Job - The Wall Street Journal - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- The Price of Russian Victory: Why Letting Putin Win Would Cost America More Than Supporting Ukraine - Foreign Affairs Magazine - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- They said we were American spies: Priests describe Russias crackdown on Evangelicals in occupied Ukraine - CNN - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Trump says it was 'stupid' for Biden to let Ukraine use US weapons to strike deeper into Russia - The Associated Press - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Cajole, Plead and Flatter: Ukraine Makes Its Case to Trump - The New York Times - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Ukraine-Russia war map: Where Putins forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine - The Independent - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Europe Needs to Swiftly Fulfil Its Aid Pledges to Ukraine - Bloomberg - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Ukraine says it has laser weapon able to down targets flying at over 2km - Reuters - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Trump says deal needed to stop Ukraine war, will talk to Putin and Zelenskiy - Reuters - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Were 750,000 additional lives wasted in Ukraine for less than nothing? - The Hill - December 16th, 2024 [December 16th, 2024]
- Ukraine war: US gives $20bn to Kyiv funded by seized Russian assets - BBC.com - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Trump calls for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and says a US withdrawal from NATO is possible - The Associated Press - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- How Trump Can Win the Peace in Ukraine - The Atlantic - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Ukraine-Russia latest: Zelensky wont sacrifice young troops to Putins forces for more weapons from West - The Independent - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Biden is rushing aid to Ukraine. Both sides are digging in. And everyone is bracing for Trump - The Associated Press - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Russian prison boss killed in car blast in occupied Ukraine - BBC.com - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Kremlin says Ukraine war will go on until Putin's goals are met on battlefield or by negotiation - Reuters - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Russia targets Ukraine's energy grid as winter sets in. Here's how one plant copes - NPR - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Deadly Russian strike kills at least three in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia - Euronews - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- How Trump Could End the War in Ukraine - The Atlantic - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- War in Ukraine: The woman turning amputees into 'superhumans' - BBC.com - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Zelensky salutes Trump's 'strong resolve' to end war in Ukraine - FRANCE 24 English - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine - The Associated Press - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Amid U.S. pressure, Ukraine starts thinking about drafting 18-year-olds - The Washington Post - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Zelenskyy open to Western troops providing security for end to war in Ukraine - The Associated Press - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Ukraine to raise NATO invite, security guarantees at meeting with European allies - Reuters - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Kyiv reveals total Ukraine casualties in Putins war for first time - POLITICO Europe - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Bill Browder on saving Ukraine, NATO, and the threat of Vladimir Putin - the1a.org - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]
- Biden is rushing aid to Ukraine as everyone braces for Trump - FOX 5 DC - December 10th, 2024 [December 10th, 2024]