words per minute
16
Vickyvikas1581307
00:00
Speed
An investigation concludes the Russian military shot down a Malaysian Airlines 777, killing 298 people.An investigation into the mysterious downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine concluded that the plane was shot down by the Russian military. The investigation identified a Russian military convoy in the area when the airliner was shot down and even the individual surface-to-air missile launcher, in large part through analysis of photos found on social media.In a press conference streamed on YouTube, Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team concluded that MH17 was shot down by a Buk anti-air missile that was part of the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, based in Kursk, Russia. A convoy from the 53rd brigade travelled from Kursk to the area of the shootdown in late June, and was in position to fire when the aircraft was destroyed on July 17th, 2014. The convoy included several Buk TELARs, or all-in-one “transporter erector launcher and radar” vehicles that mount both the radar and interceptor missiles on a single vehicle platform.The criminal investigation included a video showing the home base of the 53rd Brigade, and pictures of a convoy that departed the base on June 23rd. Dozens of photos of the convoy were taken and posted on Russian social media, including VK. Features on the road, particularly street signs, matched up exactly with Google Street View as the convoy wound its way south. License plate numbers and other details were recorded and matched up with vehicles later spotted in eastern Ukraine, proving the convoy had taken Buk missile launch vehicles there.All military vehicles have identifying marks allowing friendly forces to keep track of them. In the case of the BUK launchers, they had a three digit number in white paint on the side. In Russian Army practice, the first number identifies the battalion, the second the company, and the third the individual vehicle. Most Buks in the convoy started with “2”, meaning they were from the 2nd Battalion, 53rd Brigade. One vehicle, however, started with “3”—a 3rd battalion vehicle.