Ukraine’s security agency, the SBU, has released recordings of intercepted phone calls that indicate Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a group of Russian-backed Cossack militants northwest of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, according to the English-language Kyiv Post.

Neither recording — one said to be between Russian military intelligence officers, the other between pro-Russian fighters — could be independently verified.

An unidentified U.S. official confirmed to various media that the plane had been shot down late Thursday afternoon.

The SBU released transcripts of two phone calls. The first phone call, reports the Kyiv Post, was made 20 minutes after the crash and, according to the SBU, captures Igor Bezler, a commander of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.

The second intercepted conversation was apparently between militants nicknamed “Major” and “Greek” immediately upon inspection of the crash site.

Here is the transcript as reported by the Kyiv Post:

Igor Bezler: We have just shot down a plane. Group Minera. It fell down beyond Yenakievo (Donetsk Oblast).

Vasili Geranin (who the SBU identifies as a colonel in the main intelligence department of Russian Federation armed forces): Pilots. Where are the pilots?

IB: Gone to search for and photograph the plane. It’s smoking.

VG: How many minutes ago?

IB: About 30 minutes ago.

SBU comment: The next part of the conversation took place about 40 minutes later.

“Major”: These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin checkpoint. Those Cossacks who are based in Chernukhino.

“Greek”: Yes, Major.

“Major”: The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first “200” (code word for dead person). We have found the first “200.” A civilian.

“Greek”: Well, what do you have there?

“Major”: In short, it was 100 per cent a passenger (civilian) aircraft.

“Greek”: Are many people there?

“Major”: Holy sh__t! The debris fell right into the yards (of homes).

“Greek”: What kind of aircraft?

“Major”: I haven’t ascertained this. I haven’t been to the main sight. I am only surveying the scene where the first bodies fell. There are the remains of internal brackets, seats and bodies.

“Greek”: Is there anything left of the weapon?

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“Major”: Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper.

“Greek”: Are there documents?

“Major”: Yes, of one Indonesian student. From a university in Thompson.

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