Flight MH17: Malaysia Airlines plane 'shot down' over Ukraine
Ukraine has claimed that one of its military transport aircraft, an An-26 shot down on Monday, was brought down by a missile fired from within Russia. And the country's president, Petro Poroshenko, says Russian army officers are operating inside Ukraine.
The BBC says the claims against Russia could be "a game changer" in the dispute over eastern Ukraine.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Footage of the wrecked plane has appeared online and a statement on the Ukrainian presidency website says the aircraft was hit at an altitude of 21,325ft, which it says means a "more powerful missile" must have been used than anti-government rebels within Ukraine are known to possess.
The statement says that the missile was not shoulder-mounted and was "probably fired" from within neighbouring Russia. Sky News says the eight crew members were all able to bail out and survived the crash.
The plane is said by Ukraine to have been taking part in what it calls "anti-terror" operations in the east of the country. Russia has made no comment on the allegations but has long denied arming or supporting the separatists fighting there.
The Ukraine president's website also alleges that the Russian military has been sending officers to fight alongside rebels within eastern parts of Ukraine - and that a newly-developed Russian missile system has been used against Ukrainian forces in the last three days.
Meanwhile, Nato has reported a Russian troop build-up taking place near the Ukrainian border, a significant increase bringing the number of personnel stationed there up to 12,000.
The Guardian reports that Ukrainian forces launched a fresh offensive on Sunday night at Luhansk, attempting to reach troops besieged for more than a month at the city's airport. The paper says both sides fired heavy artillery fire all night - with a pause to watch the World Cup final.
-
‘How can I know these words originated in their heart and not some data center in northern Virginia?’instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Can Trump deliver a farmer bailout in time?Today's Big Question Planting decisions, food prices in the balance
-
Tips for seizing control of your digital well-beingThe Week Recommends A handy mix of technology and self-motivation
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
Remaking the military: Pete Hegseth’s war on diversity and ‘fat generals’Talking Point The US Secretary of War addressed military members on ‘warrior ethos’
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sitesSpeed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Russian strike on Kyiv kills 23, hits EU officesSpeed Read The strike was the second-largest since Russia invaded in 2022
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
