Interfax: Defense Ministry denies Russian air defense involvement in Boeing 777 crash

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 18, 2014) The Russian Defense Ministry has denied the alleged involvement of Russian air defense and military aircraft in the crash of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777.

“In view of various kinds of speculations regarding operations of the Russian armed forces in the areas bordering Ukrainian, we affirm that air defense means of the Russian armed forces were not operating in that region on July 17. Planes of the Russian Air Force did not fly in Russian regions bordering the Donetsk region on July 17, 2014,” the ministry’s press service and information department said in a statement.

“This information is fully proven with objective control means,” the ministry emphasized.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian army units possessing air defense missile launchers of the Buk-M1 type are deployed in the plane crash area.

In addition, Ukrainian Air Force planes armed with various types of missiles are constantly present in the Donetsk region airspace, the report said. “This is an indisputable fact,” the ministry indicated.

“The statements of Kyiv that those systems and planes did not open fire at airborne targets cause serious doubts. It is impossible to draw this definite conclusion within such a short period of time against the backdrop of fierce fighting in that area,” it said. “Such important statements that have serious legal consequences require a full evaluation,” it said.

The ministry pointed out that Boeing 777 was flying outside of the range of operation of Russian air defense and across the Ukrainian airspace supported by the national air traffic control services.

“We ask the international community to hold a thorough and absolutely transparent inquiry into this plane crash,” the ministry said.

[featured image is file photo]