More investigation into Buk missile system that downed Flight MH17

By - Iggy Ostanin
Iggy Ostanin is a freelance Russian journalist who does investigative research on the Ukrainian conflict. He tweets under @magnitsky and can be contacted at iggy.ostanin@gmail.com

Read full article on:
https://bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2014/09/08/images-show-the-buk-that-downed-flight-mh17-inside-russia-controlled-by-russian-troops/

The Buk launcher can be identified because of a number of features, including white markings on the left side side of its chassis, and what looks like the traces of a number that has been painted over. Here is a comparison of the Buk seen in previously unpublicised video taken in Russia on the 23rd of June with a well known image from Paris Match, which shows a Buk in Donetsk at 9am on July the 17th.


On the left: the Buk in a column of Russian military vehicles seen on the evening on the 23rd of June on the motorway from Staryy Oskol to the OEMK steel works in the Belgorod area

Source - http://instagram.com/p/pmHfidCSJU/?modal=true

On the Right: Image from Paris Match.

Source: https://bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2014/07/28/the-buk-that-could-an-open-source-odyssey/

Numerous earlier studies of vehicles inside Ukraine has shown it has been standard practice for Russian forces to paint over the numbers on their vehicles before sending them into the Ukraine. In the Paris Match image, much of the remaining number has now been painted over. However, it is still possible to see the top curve of what was a “2” and the other two white marks. It’s important to note that these markings are in exactly the same positions on the Buk in both images.

Matching markings
Left: Same Paris Match image as above. On the right: image from a video taken near the Magnit store in Alexeyevka, Russia on the 24th of June.

Source - http://vk.com/video135321380_169811617?list=03e8088fdba765b187

On the left: an image from a video widely spread in the wake of the MH17 tragedy.
Source - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4HJmev5xg0

On the right: another unpublicised video from around Staryy Oskol uploaded on the 23rd of June.
Source - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2MNraWgubs&feature=youtu.be&t=1m6s

Read full article on:
https://bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2014/09/08/images-show-the-buk-that-downed-flight-mh17-inside-russia-controlled-by-russian-troops/