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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Kerry Says Russia Trained Separatists to Use Antiaircraft Missiles | Kerry Says Russia Trained Separatists to Use Antiaircraft Missiles |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| WASHINGTON — In presenting the most detailed case yet alleging Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that Russia had funneled large quantities of heavy weapons to Ukrainian separatists and trained them how to operate SA-11 antiaircraft missiles, the type of system that is believed to have been used to shoot down the Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine. | |
| “We know for certain that the separatists have a proficiency that they’ve gained by training from Russians as to how to use these sophisticated SA-11 systems,” Mr. Kerry said on the CNN program “State of the Union.” | “We know for certain that the separatists have a proficiency that they’ve gained by training from Russians as to how to use these sophisticated SA-11 systems,” Mr. Kerry said on the CNN program “State of the Union.” |
| Appearing on five network news programs on Sunday, Mr. Kerry laid out a litany of findings that he said pointed to Russian involvement in support of the separatists who most likely shot down the airliner on Thursday, killing all 298 on board. | Appearing on five network news programs on Sunday, Mr. Kerry laid out a litany of findings that he said pointed to Russian involvement in support of the separatists who most likely shot down the airliner on Thursday, killing all 298 on board. |
| American officials have said in recent days that the SA-11 unit was believed to have been transported to Ukraine from Russia shortly before the plane was downed. And the American Embassy in Kiev released a statement saying audio of separatist leaders discussing the downed airliner, released by Ukraine’s security service, was authentic. | American officials have said in recent days that the SA-11 unit was believed to have been transported to Ukraine from Russia shortly before the plane was downed. And the American Embassy in Kiev released a statement saying audio of separatist leaders discussing the downed airliner, released by Ukraine’s security service, was authentic. |
| But Mr. Kerry’s comments were the first time that an American official publicly asserted that the Russians had trained separatists how to fire such a weapon. | But Mr. Kerry’s comments were the first time that an American official publicly asserted that the Russians had trained separatists how to fire such a weapon. |
| While he said the separatists had SA-11 units before the Malaysian jet crashed, he stopped short of saying Russia provided the specific unit that downed the airliner. | While he said the separatists had SA-11 units before the Malaysian jet crashed, he stopped short of saying Russia provided the specific unit that downed the airliner. |
| Asked whether Russia was “culpable,” Mr. Kerry said investigators would have to make such a legalistic determination. He left no doubt, however, that he thought Russia had contributed to the separatists militarily. | Asked whether Russia was “culpable,” Mr. Kerry said investigators would have to make such a legalistic determination. He left no doubt, however, that he thought Russia had contributed to the separatists militarily. |
| The support, he said, included a huge arms convoy that was sent a week ago of “about 150 vehicles with armored personnel carriers, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, artillery, all of which crossed over from Russia into the eastern part of Ukraine and was turned over to the separatists.” | The support, he said, included a huge arms convoy that was sent a week ago of “about 150 vehicles with armored personnel carriers, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, artillery, all of which crossed over from Russia into the eastern part of Ukraine and was turned over to the separatists.” |
| American officials, who declined to be identified because they were discussing intelligence assessments, said on Sunday that a training area for Ukrainian separatists had been set up near Rostov in southwestern Russia, and that instruction had taken place there for weeks involving the use of major weapons systems, including air defense systems. | American officials, who declined to be identified because they were discussing intelligence assessments, said on Sunday that a training area for Ukrainian separatists had been set up near Rostov in southwestern Russia, and that instruction had taken place there for weeks involving the use of major weapons systems, including air defense systems. |
| Two American officials who have access to classified intelligence reports said the separatist fighters who are believed to have been trained there may include former Russian military soldiers who have volunteered to fight against the Ukrainian government, Ukrainians who oppose the authorities in Kiev and perhaps Russian commandos. | Two American officials who have access to classified intelligence reports said the separatist fighters who are believed to have been trained there may include former Russian military soldiers who have volunteered to fight against the Ukrainian government, Ukrainians who oppose the authorities in Kiev and perhaps Russian commandos. |
| The assistance the Russians are alleged to have provided has a military logic, according to American officials. | The assistance the Russians are alleged to have provided has a military logic, according to American officials. |
| The Ukrainian government, unlike the separatists, has attack jets, military transport aircraft and helicopters. The Russians have sought to neutralize that advantage in the air by providing rebels with antiaircraft systems, according to American and other Western officials. | The Ukrainian government, unlike the separatists, has attack jets, military transport aircraft and helicopters. The Russians have sought to neutralize that advantage in the air by providing rebels with antiaircraft systems, according to American and other Western officials. |
| Since May, almost a dozen Ukrainian transport planes, reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters have been shot down by the separatists using weapons that Russia is believed to have provided. | Since May, almost a dozen Ukrainian transport planes, reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters have been shot down by the separatists using weapons that Russia is believed to have provided. |
| Moscow is also believed to have intervened in other ways. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO’s top commander, has drawn attention to a video that appears to show the Russian military firing short-range Grad rockets into Ukraine. | Moscow is also believed to have intervened in other ways. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, NATO’s top commander, has drawn attention to a video that appears to show the Russian military firing short-range Grad rockets into Ukraine. |
| “I am deeply concerned by this latest video that appears to show Russia engaging in military action against Ukraine,” General Breedlove said on Twitter on Thursday. | “I am deeply concerned by this latest video that appears to show Russia engaging in military action against Ukraine,” General Breedlove said on Twitter on Thursday. |
| One of the goals of the short-range-missile attacks, which have also been noted in intelligence reports, is to push Ukrainian forces away from the border so that it would be easier for Russia to move weapons and cooperate militarily with the separatists in those areas. | One of the goals of the short-range-missile attacks, which have also been noted in intelligence reports, is to push Ukrainian forces away from the border so that it would be easier for Russia to move weapons and cooperate militarily with the separatists in those areas. |
| Officials noted that after Ukrainian forces routed the separatists from their stronghold in Slovyansk early this month, the large convoy of arms was sent from Russia to the separatists. | Officials noted that after Ukrainian forces routed the separatists from their stronghold in Slovyansk early this month, the large convoy of arms was sent from Russia to the separatists. |
| In Moscow, Aytech M. Bizhev, a deputy commander of Russia’s antiaircraft forces, sought to rebut allegations that Ukrainian separatists had shot down the Malaysian airliner. | In Moscow, Aytech M. Bizhev, a deputy commander of Russia’s antiaircraft forces, sought to rebut allegations that Ukrainian separatists had shot down the Malaysian airliner. |
| In a Sunday interview on Rossiya 24, Mr. Bizhev said they would not have known how to launch such a missile, adding that “an entire military ensemble” of various specialized officers is needed to fire such a weapon and that they would have had no opportunity to train in the “wartime conditions” in eastern Ukraine. | In a Sunday interview on Rossiya 24, Mr. Bizhev said they would not have known how to launch such a missile, adding that “an entire military ensemble” of various specialized officers is needed to fire such a weapon and that they would have had no opportunity to train in the “wartime conditions” in eastern Ukraine. |
| Mr. Bizhev’s point was to buttress the Kremlin’s argument that the West was too quick to blame the separatists. But he inadvertently appeared to strengthen a central argument made by the Pentagon: Any SA-11 attack by the separatists could not have been carried out absent Russian assistance. | Mr. Bizhev’s point was to buttress the Kremlin’s argument that the West was too quick to blame the separatists. But he inadvertently appeared to strengthen a central argument made by the Pentagon: Any SA-11 attack by the separatists could not have been carried out absent Russian assistance. |
| American officials have also ruled out the possibility that the separatists used a captured system from the Ukrainian government’s arsenal. The SA-11 unit that the separatists said they captured in June, American officials said, is not operational and is in a different region of Ukraine. | American officials have also ruled out the possibility that the separatists used a captured system from the Ukrainian government’s arsenal. The SA-11 unit that the separatists said they captured in June, American officials said, is not operational and is in a different region of Ukraine. |
| Republican lawmakers complained that Mr. Kerry’s allegation of Russian involvement was not accompanied by tougher sanctions, including against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. | Republican lawmakers complained that Mr. Kerry’s allegation of Russian involvement was not accompanied by tougher sanctions, including against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. |
| “How about sanctions that would hit Putin as an individual, their energy sector, their banking sector?” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” | “How about sanctions that would hit Putin as an individual, their energy sector, their banking sector?” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” |
| “The Europeans are never going to lead on this issue; it is indispensable that America lead,” added Mr. Graham, who also said the United States should provide arms to the Ukrainian government. | “The Europeans are never going to lead on this issue; it is indispensable that America lead,” added Mr. Graham, who also said the United States should provide arms to the Ukrainian government. |
| The Obama administration has provided nonlethal support such as meals ready to eat and body armor. And it plans to provide night-vision goggles, but it has refrained from providing weapons. | The Obama administration has provided nonlethal support such as meals ready to eat and body armor. And it plans to provide night-vision goggles, but it has refrained from providing weapons. |
| The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday on the Ukraine crisis. | The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday on the Ukraine crisis. |
| At the United Nations, the Security Council was expected to vote on Monday on a resolution that condemns the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines jet and calls for an independent international investigation. The ambassadors of France and Britain have publicly pushed for a vote. It remained unclear how Russia will react. | At the United Nations, the Security Council was expected to vote on Monday on a resolution that condemns the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines jet and calls for an independent international investigation. The ambassadors of France and Britain have publicly pushed for a vote. It remained unclear how Russia will react. |