Comments by "peabase" (@peabase) on "How does a BUK missile system work? - BBC News" video.

  1. ***** I'm not contesting that the Ukrainian authorities initially denied their involvement in the destruction of Siberian Airlines 1812. The crux of the matter is that they did so in unison with Russian authorities. Which part of "Putin" don't you understand?
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  2. They did hint that the Buk launch platform can also operate autonomously, using its own radar.
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  3. +George Taylor The report showed that Ukrainian air force regulars, who operate the Buk within the armed forces of Ukraine, weren't anywhere near the launch site. Since the Buk is considered too complex to operate by reservists -- in this case Ukrainian reservists turned rebels -- it's likely that Russians operated the Buk, too. Russian air defences are known for their bungling. Does Mathias Rust ring a bell?
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  4. ***** Alma Atey, the Buk's manufacturer, got their marching orders from the Kremlin and tried their utmost to draw away attention from the true course of events. It's telling that they only stepped into the breach when the Ukrainian fighter jet theory had become untenable. I'm curious to see if there will be yet another alternative theory that exonerates Russia -- one that's completely at odds with the previous theories, of course. It's funny, too, that you should mention Siberia Airlines Flight 1812. The Ukrainians were behind it all right. Their Soviet-made S-200 missile malfunctioned -- instead of self-destructing after its intended target, a military target drone, was destroyed the missile locked on to the airliner with disastrous consequences. The potential for loss of prestige (and lucrative arms sales) was sufficient for Putin himself to speak up and deny the possibility that the S-200 was at fault, but the Ukrainians later admitted as much. It appears the Ukrainians' big blunder was keeping crummy Soviet kit in service.
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