MH17: Russia Insists Missile That Downed Plane Was Ukrainian

Russia insisted Monday that the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was Ukrainian, denying the evidence gathered by the international community that points blame at the Kremlin. MH17 was shot down by a Soviet-made missile over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people on board. The Netherlands and Australia announced in May that they believe the missile was transported to Ukraine from a military unit in the Russian city of Kursk. However, Russia has always denied involvement and Monday’s claims are the latest attempt to place blame elsewhere. Lt. Gen. Nikolai Parshin, chief of the Missile and Artillery Directorate at the Russian Defense Ministry, claimed to reporters that the missile was made of Soviet parts but was transported to a military unit in western Ukraine in 1986—and was never returned to Russia.