How Bellingcat tracked a Russian missile system in Ukraine

TL;DR

Dutch prosecutors are ready to go to trial with the suspects responsible for shooting down Malaysia Flight 17. Online investigations by civilians and geolocation data helped establish the convoy's route, and intercepted phone calls involving high-ranking Russian officials may provide further evidence.

Transcript

sixty minutes overtime it was nearly six years ago that Malaysia flight 17 left Amsterdam enroute to Malaysia but was shot down over Ukraine apparently shot down by a Russian built missile system what we discovered is that during these nearly six years there has been a painstaking investigation and Dutch prosecutors are now ready to go to trial wit... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥡 The investigation into the shooting down of Malaysia Flight 17 has taken nearly six years.
• 🖐️ Civilians played a significant role in uncovering evidence through online investigations and contributed to the case.
• 👊 Geolocation data and Google Maps were utilized to establish the route of the convoy responsible for the attack.
• 📲 Intercepted phone calls mentioning high-ranking Russian officials have potential significance in the investigation.
• 💨 Russian officials have presented multiple alternative theories, attempting to shift blame away from themselves.
• 😜 The investigation aims to determine the degree of involvement or knowledge of high-ranking Russian officials.
• 🛰️ Satellite imagery and videos were analyzed to debunk false claims made by the Russian government.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did civilians contribute to the investigation of the Malaysia Flight 17 case?

Civilians, led by Eliot Higgins and his online detective agency Bellingcat, discovered evidence and photographs of the missile launcher used in the attack through online searches for information, photographs, and videos related to the incident.

Q: How was geolocation data used in the investigation?

Geolocation data and Google Maps were used to track and establish the precise route the convoy took from a military base in Russia to the firing position in eastern Ukraine, providing crucial evidence linking the attack to Russian involvement.

Q: What did the intercepted phone calls reveal?

Intercepted phone calls mentioned the Russian Defense Minister, the deputy director of Russian intelligence, and an aide to President Putin. The investigation aims to determine their involvement or knowledge of the incident.

Q: Is there evidence linking the attack to the Kremlin?

While it is not yet certain if the trail leads all the way back to the Kremlin, the investigation is heading in that direction. Intercepted phone calls and further evidence may help build a case against higher-ranking Russian officials.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dutch prosecutors are set to begin a trial against the suspects responsible for shooting down Malaysia Flight 17 over Ukraine.

• Online investigations led by civilians, including the online detective agency Bellingcat, played a crucial role in uncovering evidence and photographs of the missile launcher used in the attack.

• Geolocation data and Google Maps helped establish the convoy's route from a military base in Russia to the firing position in eastern Ukraine.