It seems clear that the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile defense regiment A-1402 was . This unit operated the SA-11/17 "Buk" medium-range mobile air defense system, an advanced cousin of the SA-6, that is thought to have been used

Since then, "Buk" components have been seen and photographed around contested and rebel controlled areas in Eastern Ukraine, one was even photographed near the impact point of MH17, in Snejnoe, adding to the theory that pro-Russian rebels shot down MH17 by mistake. While another, seen below, was spotted traveling on a highway near the area.

Meanwhile, Russia's news agencies are implying that it was an assassination attempt on. Such reports seem coincidental at best.

Even an air traffic controller claims MH17 was being escorted by Ukrainian fighters at the time of incident. Also, there is supposedly a, although the authenticity of the conversation is suspect. So there is a lot of conflicting reports out there, although the taking of missile defense unit A-1402 by separatists and the newly surfaced pictures of "Buk" systems in the region add a lot of evidence to the possibility that the downing of MH17 was a rebel operation.

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was allegedly shot down by a

With all this in mind, one has to wonder how Western intelligence agencies did not alert ICAO that there were SAMs in pro-Russian rebel hands capable of reaching up and taking down airliners flying high-up in the flightlevels. This is especially relevant considering the downing of a high-flying the An-26 just days earlier, not to mention Russia's massive buildup of air defense capabilities on the border. If the airspace was indeed open, then this whole disaster could have been averted by simply warning civilian flights to steer clear of the area.