MH17 - The Open Source Investigation, Three Years Later

The full report can be downloaded here

Today, we are releasing a report summarizing all major open source evidence surrounding the downing of MH17 in an easy-to-read 73-page survey. This report is broken into thirteen chapters, summarizing the circumstances that led to the downing of MH17, information on the Buk missile launcher that downed the passenger plane, a summary of alternative scenarios regarding the downing, and other essential areas of information.

For those well-versed in the twists and turns surrounding the MH17 case, most of the information in this report will be familiar. This report is aimed at those looking for a more accessible introduction into the information around this tragic event, which has seen massive disinformation campaigns around it and continues to be relevant with the ongoing Dutch-led criminal investigation. Below is a summary of the findings of this survey:

Between June 23-25, 2014, Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade transported vehicles within Russia to positions close to the Russian border with Ukraine. This includes Buk 332, later photographed and filmed in Ukraine on July 17 and 18, 2014.

On July 17, 2014, Buk 332 was in Ukraine, and arrived in Donetsk in the morning. From there, while loaded onto red low-loader, it traveled eastwards through separatist-held territory, and eventually reached the town of Snizhne in the early afternoon.

After arriving in Snizhne, Buk 332 was unloaded and drove under its own power southward, out of town.

Buk 332 arrived at a field south of Snizhne and fired a missile that resulted in the destruction of flight MH17.

Buk 332 was next filmed traveling east through the separatist-controlled city of Luhansk on the morning of July 18, 2014 missing one missile. Intercepted communications indicate that the missile launcher was taken into Russia shortly after this video was filmed.

On July 21, 2014, the Russian MoD presented a series of fabricated and misleading information about the flight path of MH17, radar data, the location of the July 18, 2014 Luhansk video, and the inclusion of misdated and heavily edited satellite imagery.

Almaz-Antey presented data that was not reflected by witness statements on the ground, any open source information, or the technical assessments made by the DSB.

No credible evidence has been presented that shows any operational Ukrainian Buk missile launcher was near a position in range of downing MH17 on July 17, 2014.

The only credible candidate for the missile launcher that downed MH17 is Russian Buk 332, of the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade.

Additionally, we would like to use this opportunity to call for an increased focus on discovering information on two individuals central to the MH17 case: Orion and Delfin. These two men, whose first names and patronymics are Andrey Ivanovich (Orion) and Nikolai Fyodorovich (Delfin), are being sought by the Dutch-led criminal investigation into the downing of MH17. The JIT’s call for witnesses regarding these two men, along with telephone conversations with their voices, can be seen below:

Orion (Орион) has also been called “Oreon” (Ореон) in a telephone call published by the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU). This call-sign is not unique in the Donbas, with other Rusisan and separatist fighters using this name, but Delfin (Дельфин, or “The Dolphin”) is more uncommon. The transcripts of these calls can be found here (in English) and here (in Russian). Additionally, the call published by the SBU called Orion a Russian officer of the GRU, but this information has not been verified.

Bellingcat, along with other online investigators, were able to discover a large amount of information on Sergey Dubinsky, or “Khmury,” another key figure in the downing of MH17. By searching some of the same sources – old videos, popular separatist message boards frequented by fighter sand their friends and family, photographs of meetings from the summer of 2014 between separatist officials and fighters – it may be possible to discover more information about Orion and Delfin. If you find information or a possible lead, tweet it out with the hashtag #OrionDelfin or #ОрионДельфин