Ukraine Rebels: We Did Not Shoot Down Plane, It Was Gov’t

Donetsk People's Republic fighters stand guard during a pro-Russian meeting in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Sunday, July 13, 2014. Pro-Russian insurgents last week retreated from the strategic city of Slovyan... Donetsk People's Republic fighters stand guard during a pro-Russian meeting in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine Sunday, July 13, 2014. Pro-Russian insurgents last week retreated from the strategic city of Slovyansk and holed up in Donetsk, a city of one million, and potentially the final frontier for the rebels. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) MORE LESS
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KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Separatist rebels in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk have denied that they are responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane.

Andrei Purgin, deputy prime minister for the rebels, told The Associated Press the plane must have been shot down by Ukrainian government troops. He gave no proof for his statement, and Ukraine earlier denied shooting at any airborne targets.

A Ukrainian official said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday over eastern Ukraine.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Notable Replies

  1. If the rebels didn’t do it, the Russians did. They have the capability of shooting down a plane flying at 33,000 feet. I doubt the Ukraine government is responsible. But we know Putin’s fingerprints all over this tragedy. He started this mess by invading Crimea.

  2. Who has control of the crash site? It needs to be locked down.

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