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On Thursday a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777, containing 298 passengers, exploded, crashed, and burned in a rebel-controlled part of eastern Ukraine. The plane was blown out of the sky at 33,000 feet, and while believed to be a terrorist attack, has not yet been confirmed. The United States is currently analyzing the trajectory of the missile that attacked this plane using a radar system, and hopes to pinpoint an exact origin for this Russian-made antiaircraft missile.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pinpointed his own reason of this jet’s crash, described by CNN as a, “fireball [that] plunged toward the ground,” blaming Ukraine’s military campaign against the separatists. “This tragedy would not have happened, if there had been peace on land, or in any case, if military operations in southeastern Ukraine had not been renewed,” he stated in televised remarks. “And without a doubt the government of the territory on which it happened bears responsibility for this frightening tragedy.”
Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, head of the Security Service of Ukraine, accused two Russian military intelligence officers for this tragedy, gleaning his proof from phone conversations between the two officers. He told reporters, “Now you know who carried out this crime. We will do everything for the Russian military who carried out this crime to be punished.”
In response to this tragedy the U.N. security council will hold a meeting set for 10 a.m. today. Britain suggested a press statement, explaining the meeting as, “a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the incident.” The statement has been circulated to all 15 council members, who must approve it before the U.N. can officially issue this to the press. The White house released a statement last Thursday calling for a similar, “full, credible and unimpeded international investigation.”
While the crash goes under investigation both Ukraine’s government and pro-Russia separatists fighting in the region have not taken responsibility.
