Rebel Site Suggests Insurgents Shot Down Malaysia Airlines Plane by Mistake

Kiev: A social media site attributed to a top Ukrainian rebel commander said the insurgents had shot down an army transporter at the location where a Malaysia Airlines plane crashed yesterday near the Russian border. (Also read: Malaysian Airliner Downing Puts Spotlight on Buk Missile System)

The comments by the top military commander of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" suggest the separatists had shot down the Malaysia Airlines plane by mistake, believing it was a large Ukrainian army transport plane. (Also read: East Ukraine a No-Fly Zone after Malaysian Plane Crash)

"We just downed an An-26 near Torez. It is down near the Progress mine," said the VK page attributed to Igor Strelkov, which is frequently quoted by Ukrainian media. (Also read: Malaysia Says Jetliner Did Not Make Distress Call)

The rebels shot down another An-26 in rebel-held eastern Ukraine on June 14, killing 49 government servicemen. (Also read: Malaysian Investigation Team on Way to Ukraine: PM Najib Razak)

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"We had warned (the Ukrainian armed forces) not to fly in 'our sky'," Strelkov says in the post.

"And here is a video confirming that a 'bird fell'," said the post.

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The website then provides a link that is identical to that published by Ukrainian media in reports about the Malaysia Airlines jet.

The video shows locals referring to the Progress coal mine mentioned by Strelkov.