Ukraine’s security service, known as the SBU, on July 18 published additional intercepted telephone conversations that further implicate Russia in the downing of the Malaysia Airline Flight 17, killing all 298 people on board on July 17. The conversations allegedly took place between Russian military intelligence officers and their armed proxies who discussed the delivery of a Buk missile system from Russia ahead of the downing of the Malaysian passenger jet.
Classified by NATO as SA-11 GADFLY, Buk missile
systems are advanced, radar-guided surface-to-air missile systems, or SAM in
military lingo. Four Russian SAM systems could knock down a passenger jet
flying at 33,000 feet, according
to Defense Tech, the same altitude at which the Malaysian airliner was
flying when it was hit.
In the intercepted conversations, the Russian
officers and Kremlin-backed militants express relief in finally getting their
hands on a Buk-M system, one of four modified versions of the Russian SAM. Kyiv
believes the Russians in Donetsk Oblast used the Buk-M2 because Ukraine’s
military doesn’t have them in its arsenal.
Until recently, Ukraine had enjoyed relative air
superiority over the Kremlin-backed militants.
But on July 14, a missile
allegedly fired from the Russian side – it’s unclear whether it was air-to-air
or ground-to-air – shot down an An-26 Ukrainian military transport plane in
Luhansk Oblast near the Ukrainian-Russian border, according to the Ukrainian
government.
On July 16, a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet was allegedly shot down
by an air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-29 jet in Russia, according to Andriy
Lysenko, spokesperson for the National Security Defense Council.
To destroy the Su-25, on July 16 at 6:55 p.m. near
the town of Amvrosiyivka, “the Russian Air Force ordered the pilot of a MiG-29
plan to use an R–27T (AA–10 Alamo–B) medium range Infra Red
homing air–to–air missile.
This type of missile cannot be detected by the
Su–25’s SPO–15 radiation warning receiver, and neither can it be detected by
satellite surveillance systems or post–launch surveillance systems,” stated
Lysenko. “During the air fight, Russian fighter aircraft homed in on the
Ukrainian plane three times for a guaranteed rocket launch.
After the target
was acquired with the help of an onboard quantum optical location station, the
MiG–29 fired one missile at the Ukrainian plane. It is only thanks to the
skillful anti–missile maneuvers of the Ukrainian pilot that a direct hit was
avoided. The missile hit the motor nozzle and the pilot crash–landed the
plane.”
At a press briefing in Kyiv on July 18, Lysenko showed a radio conversion
allegedly between the Russian MiG-29 pilot and his base as he attempts to shoot
down a Ukrainian aircraft. The conversation starts after the sixth minute.
Concerning the delivered Buk system from Russia, the
SBU says it crossed into Ukraine at 1 a.m. on July 17 close to the town of
Sukhodolsk. Later that morning at 9 a.m., it arrived in Donetsk, but was later
moved to Pervomaisk. After the Malaysian passenger jet was shot down, the Interior
Ministry’s intelligence unit
recorded a crawler tractor carrying a missile system moving towards the
border of Russia. The video clearly shows missiles, with the middle one of
three missing.
“We’re analyzing this and other collected
information. We think this is the very Buk system which shot at the civilian
plane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur,” Interior Ministry Avakov said. He
said that the terrorists were “trying to hide evidence of the terrible crime.”
Below is the video and full English-language transcript
of alleged conversations between Russian military intelligence officers and
their proxies regarding the receipt and delivery of a Buk system from Russia:
Dialogue
starts at the 38th second:
Talks between terrorists, July
14, 2014
“Oleh”
– Oleh Bugrov Valeriovych, army chief of staff of self-proclaimed Luhansk
People’s Republic, deputy minister of defense of “LNR”.
“Oreon” – a citizen of the
Russian Federation, officer of Main Intelligence Directorate (to be identified).
Oleh: –
Worked out a plane near Stanitsa. Missed.
Oreon:
– Great. This way they are taking revenge on planes, but only several days
remain. Now we have (radar-guided surface-to-air) BUK (missile system), will
shall bring them (planes) down.
Talks between terrorists, July
17, 2014
Khmuryi: Sergei Nikolaevich
Petrovskiy, year of birth 1964, officer of Main Intelligence Directorate of Russian Federation, Deputy
Chief of Ihor
Girkin on Intelligence,
at the time of the interception he was in Donetsk.
“Buryat”
– militant of terrorist organization “DNR” (to be indentified).
Buryat:
– Where should we load this beauty, Nikolaievich?
Khmuryi:
Which one? This one?
B: Yes,
the one I’ve brought. I’m already in Donetsk.
K: Is
it the one I’m thinking about? “B…,”M” one?
B: Yes,
yes, yes. “BUK”,”BUK”.
K: Is
it on a tractor?
B: Yes,
it’s on it. We need to unload it somewhere, in order to hide.
K: Is
it with a crew?
B: Yes,
with the crew.
K:
Don’t hide it anywhere. She’ll go there now.
July
17, 2014
Khmuryi:
– Tell me, have you brought me one or two?
Buryat:
One, one. Because they had a misunderstanding there. They didn’t give us a tug. We loaded it and went at their own pace.
K: Did
it go on her own or on a tug?
B: It
crossed the line (border).
H: And
now have you brought it on a tug? Don’t put in anywhere… I’ll tell now where
it should go, it will go together with “Vostok” tanks.
Talks
between terrorists, July 17, 2014
Khmuryi: Sergei Mikhailovich
Petrovskiy, year of birth 1964, officer of Main Intelligence Directorate of Russian Federation, Deputy
Chief of Ihor
Girkin on Intelligence,
at the time of the interception was in Donetsk
“Sanych”
– militant of terrorist organization “DNR”. Deputy of Khmuryi.
K:
Sanych, the point is that my “BUK–M” (modified Russian SAM system) will go with
yours, it is on a tug. Where should I drive it to put in a column?
Sanych:
There, behind “Motel”, not reaching Hornostaevka.
K: Just
after the Motel, right?
July
17, 2014
Khmuryi:
Listen to me carefully, behind the circle near “Motel” there will be you know
what. Call to “Bibliotekar” (Librarian).
Bring
inside only those, who just came back, only as much as you need for the convoy.
Leave everyone else here. Not far away there is Pervomaiskoe, look at the map.
DNR
militant: I got it.
Khmuryi: Settle somewhere in that
area, bring there those who are left. Your task is reserve, plus protection
of this piece (BUK–M),
which you will drive now. “Giyrza” will come there too. If anything, I’m on
line.
DNR
militant: – Ok.
Talks
between terrorists, July 17, 2014
Khmuryi: Sergei Mikhailovich
Petrovskiy, 1964 year of birth, officer of Main Intelligence Directorate of Russian Federation, Deputy
Chief of Ihor
Girkin on Intelligence
who at the time of the interception was in Donetsk
“Botsman” – officer of Main
Intelligence Directorate of
Russian Federation (to be identified).
H: Yes,
Botsman, I’m listening.
B:
Hello, big brother. How are you?
H: Not
so well. We are in Mariinovka. That’s why not well. Carrying on.
B:
What’s wrong?
H: What
do you think? (The Ukrainian army is) attacking with “Grad” (multiple-rocket
launchers) all the time, finally now we’re having a little break. We’ve just
hit a plane, Su–type. Because we’ve got BUK–M. They (Ukrainian soldiers) are
now in Zelenopillja, trying to break free, but their way out is only through
me. Yesterday we hit 2 Su jets, today – another two. Thank God “BUK–M” arrived
today in the morning. It became easier. But in general, of course, it’s tough.
B: What
can I say, if you need anything, call me – and I’ll arrive immediately.
H:
Thanks, brother. I’m going in two hours…Seems like it’s a lull. In two hours
I’m heading to Donetsk. Because I was sent three more “Gvozdika”
(self–propelled artillery). Will
carry ‘Gvozdikas’ here because it’s really tough now.
B:
Maybe we should cover them with (our own) Grad (multiple-rocket launchers)?
H: The
thing is that we have Grad, but no spotter. And secondly, we are waiting for
Russia to f… them from their side.
