Lost figure
International expert and journalist group Bellingcat, on the night of may 4, presents the report on “Buk 3×2″: the mystery of the lost numbers”. The authors of the investigation compared the recorded by eyewitnesses on the eve of the crash of MH17-propelled fire installation anti-aircraft missile complex “Buk” with real-life examples of this technique (Bellingcat and previously engaged in investigation of circumstances of accident and the results of their survey were sent an International investigation team led by the Netherlands).
The images obtained by the authors from open sources, on an unknown installation markings 3×2 (second digit is erased). According to the previous investigation Bellingcat Buk” in the area of the crash brought the soldiers of the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade from Kursk. On marking and photos from your social networks military researchers had previously been able, they believe, to establish that the fire installation was part of the column of the second division of the brigade, which was moving in the direction of the Donetsk region in June 2014. However, the machine itself, according to the first digit assigned to the third division. Researchers believe that the installation of the 3×2 room replaced the same from the second division.
This time experts believe that they managed for the totality of distinctive features of the machine to calculate the full number: 332. Thus speech, in their opinion, is a 332-propelled fire installation Buk”, assigned to the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade of the Russian armed forces. The researchers interpret this as further proof of Russian origin of the installation.
sent on Tuesday an official request of the Ministry of defense of Russia with the request as quickly as possible to comment on the new report. In response to the publication of the previous investigation Bellingcat defense Ministry denied the movement of Russian military complexes on the territory of Ukraine. Earlier reports of the group’s office did not comment.
Distinctive features
In a Bellingcat there were photos of three Buk” third division from 2009 to 2013. The researchers compared several characteristics of the Russian war machine with the one that was filmed in the Donbass.
To start Bellingcat tried to match the profile of the side flap track installations. However, none of their photos available to the team, did not coincide with the interest of their machine is fully. Bellingcat attribute this to the fact that a 332 “Buk” in 2010 were damaged, then part of the flap was replaced. To find more recent pictures of this installation, the researchers could not.
In addition, the researchers drew attention to the rollers crawler platform. Recorded by eyewitnesses “Buk 3×2 marked had ten rollers with spices, one hollow and one roller rink unknown form on the starboard side. Under this configuration, according to the investigation, approached the installation with number 332. However, the researchers noticed that the device with a marking 312 having a full set of hollow rollers, one roller could be replaced.
The third distinctive feature of “Beech”, captured on the eve of the tragedy, the team called damage to the lateral plates of the front part of the left side. The installation of the 3×2 plate is curved, it is noticeable on the photos provided by Bellingcat. Similar damage has on the body 332 of the installation.
The fourth proof Bellingcat — the location and length of the cables connected to the mast starter. Under the scheme of installation of unknown cables fit only one standing armed with machine — 332-I.
In addition to these features, the researchers also indicate the presence of white markings on Board filmed on the way to Donetsk installation, matching stains of soot and oil fired engine and the similarity of the font and the distance between the numbers printed on the side of the machine layout.
Given the compliance of the greater part of these criteria, researchers from the group Bellingcat claim that “Buk 3×2 filmed in a convoy in Russia in June 2014, “Beech”, discovered on the territory of Donetsk region before and after the disaster of MH17 and the installation at the disposal of the third battery of the third division of the 53 anti-aircraft missile brigade from Kursk — one and the same machine.
The accuracy of the estimation
According to military expert Michael Hadareni, the characteristic features can be distinguished one from the other fighting machine. “Anyone who operates this machine, can always find special signs: dents, scratches”, — says the expert. However, in his opinion, an outsider will not be able to know all the features of this machine.
Agree with him military expert Viktor Litovkin. “Of course, to distinguish one car from another. But this can only be a person who knows the history of this car”, — the expert believes.
According to the head of the expert-journalist group Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins, the combination of characteristics presented in the investigation, is quite rare. “We researched a large number of installations both Ukrainian and Russian installations “Beech”. Even find one matching basis — a rare phenomenon, they are several,” said Higgins, answering questions . In his opinion, all matches are another proof that Russia provided the Buk who shot down MH-17/
According to Higgins, the investigation materials were handed over to the Dutch police, which is included in the consolidated group of investigators (JIT Joint Investigation Team). Earlier, the representative of the Dutch Prosecutor’s office VIN de Bruin reported that JIT is going to seriously study the evidence in the Bellingcat and understand how they can be used in a criminal case.
Other versions
The evening of may 3 broadcast of telekinetically BBC2 was showing “Who shot down MH17?” The film told about alternative versions of the crash of flight MH17. British television showed the witnesses of the disaster, which claimed to have seen in the sky not only the silhouette of a fighter jet, but a missile of class “air-air” struck the plane at an altitude of about ten thousand meters.
After the crash of MH17 in July 2014 of the Deputy chief of the General staff of the Russian armed forces Andrei Kartapolov outlined version of the Russian side, which ever since has not been revised. According to him, all the data indicate that MH-17 was shot down by Ukrainian troops. The active participation of Russian servicemen in the war in the Donbass official Moscow has always denied.
In October 2015, the military specialists of the concern “Almaz-Antey” has published the results of its own investigation of the disaster MH17/ From this it follows that the Boeing was shot down by a missile that is no longer used by the Russian military from the territory, which at that time was not controlled by any of the parties to the conflict in the Donbass.
Bellingcat — international expert and journalist group, was founded July 15, 2014, the British journalist Eliot Higgins. The team’s task is to unite citizen journalists to investigate current events. In his reports, the Bellingcat is based on open sources: videos and photos posted in social networks, satellite imagery. Bellingcat exists on private donations collected through a crowdfunding service Kickstarter. The team employs more than two dozen people and a large number of volunteers who help the project free of charge. Now the main project Bellingcat — investigation into the circumstances of the crash Malaysian Boeing. The command also oversees a military campaign in Syria, including the actions of Russian troops.
The accuracy of the information Bellingcat questioning the foreign media. In June, the German magazine Spiegel interviewed an expert on the analysis of forensic photography Jens Kreis. The occasion was the Bellingcat investigation in which, according to the group, it has been proven the manipulation of the Russian Ministry of defense photos of the downed mh17 plane. Expert Kreis said that the method applied Bellingcat, from the point of view of the examination does not stand up to scrutiny. “At its core, it relies on the so-called ELA-analysis. This method is not taught and subjective. Accordingly, there is no scientific articles devoted to this method”, — he said (quoted by “InoSMI”). Chief editor of Spiegel Online Florian harms in June has officially apologized to readers for the fact that the editors on the basis of information from Bellingcat gave an affirmative headers that Russia manipulated with the images. According to harms, the news, citing research Bellingcat needed to be in the subjunctive mood, as the approval of the researchers were not properly checked by the editorial Board.
