Buk missile launcher: the weapon that may have shot down flight MH17
Experts say Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is likely to have been downed by a Buk missile launcher. But who fired it?

The Buk surface-to-air missile launcher – which many believe was used to shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as it cruised at 33,000 feet – is a Soviet-era weapon built for anti-aircraft operations.
The missiles are still "widely used in eastern European states, including Ukraine", the Daily Mail says.
Witnesses of the flight MH17 crash reported debris falling from the sky, which some experts say indicates that the plane either exploded or was blown up in mid-air.
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.
Buk missile launchers lock onto their targets with radar guidance systems and are effective up to an altitude of 75,000 feet.
Shoulder-mounted MANPAD missile systems, popular with guerilla groups, would be ineffective against an aircraft flying as high as 33,000 feet.
The identity of those responsible for the crash is still unknown, but the Daily Mail reports that a launcher "similar to the Buk missile system" was seen yesterday by journalists near the eastern town of Snizhne, which is said to be held by pro-Russia rebels.
However, the pro-Moscow broadcaster RT notes that the Ukrainian military is in possession of several batteries of Buk surface-to-air missile systems in the Donetsk region where the plane went down, and suggested that it may have been responsible for the crash.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
According to a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry "units of the armed forces of Ukraine located in the crash-site are equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems of Buk-M1 ... (which) are capable of detecting air targets at ranges of up to 160 kilometres and hit them at full altitude range at a distance of over 30 kilometres".
In a separate statement, Donetsk separatist leader Andrei Purgin said that he did not know of any Buk missile systems in his fighters' possession.
Contrary to this claim however, two weeks ago rebel forces bragged about having seized the A-1402 military base, which according to separatists was "an anti-aircraft missile forces facility equipped with Buk mobile surface-to-air missile systems", Voice of Russia reported.
Yesterday separatist leader Igor Strelkov bragged that he had downed an aircraft just after MH17 was targeted, "though he thought it was a Ukrainian transport aircraft", the Daily Telegraph says.
Strelkov reportedly wrote: "In the district of Torez an An-26 was just shot down. It crashed somewhere near the Progress mine. We warned them not to fly in our skies".
Earlier this week rebels also claimed responsibility for bringing down two Ukrainian Sukhoi-25 jets with surface-to-air missiles.
-
5 of the best platonic TV friendships
the week recommends Maintaining boundaries has proven tricky for all but the most committed of buddies on the small screen
-
Why are global postal services cutting off package delivery to the US?
Today's Big Question 'Uncertainty' around new tariff rules halts small-dollar imports
-
SpaceX breaks Starship losing streak in 10th test
speed read The Starship rocket's test flight was largely successful, deploying eight dummy satellites during its hour in space
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Kyiv marks independence as Russia downplays peace
Speed Read President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with Zelenskyy for peace talks pushed by President Donald Trump
-
What will security guarantees for Ukraine look like?
Today's Big Question From boots on the ground to economic sanctions, here are the measures that might stop Russia taking another bite out of Ukraine
-
Russia tries Ukraine land grab before Trump summit
Speed Read The incursion may be part of Putin's efforts to boost his bargaining position
-
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: flirting with authoritarianism?
Talking Point Ukraine's president is facing first major domestic unrest since the Russian invasion, over plans to water down the country's anti-corruption agencies
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Why are Ukraine's anti-corruption issues roaring back into focus now?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION A new bill curbing anti-corruption bodies prompted Ukraine's first mass protests against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in years. Where are the roots of this domestic unrest, and what could it mean for Ukraine's future?
-
Trump threatens Russia with 'severe tariffs'
speed read The president also agreed to sell NATO advanced arms for Ukraine