The anti-aircraft brigade involved in the 2014 MH17 disaster is fighting in the war in Ukraine, US public radio station NPR reports, saying it has found evidence.
NPR writes to have seen documents revealing that the 53rd anti-aircraft brigade was active in the city of Izhem, in the Kharkiv region, last year. The unit was present there for most of 2022, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
In September, Ukraine recaptured the region from Russia. In the process, the Ukrainian Armed Forces obtained documents naming the military units that fought along around Izhou, including thus the 53rd Brigade. The Kharkiv prosecutor confirmed to NPR that the unit had been active in the area.
The 53rd anti-aircraft brigade supplied the Buk missile used to shoot down the Malaysia Airlines plane in July 2014.
The attack killed 298 people, including 196 Dutch nationals and several Belgians. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded another honorary title to the brigade.
