“If true, this represents a significant escalation, as the SA-17 is a sophisticated system requiring a whole suite of radar and command vehicles.”
A bunch of ‘separatists’ did not do this. It takes months to learn how to operate and maintain a sophisticated weapon like the SA17.
FoxNews now reporting that ‘unnamed individuals’ in the Pentagon are stating that the SA-17 was operated by the Russians.
Another thing. All this discussion of missiles switching from one target to another target after launch are BS. It is theoretically possible but very very unlikely. Missiles, even those with seekers, do not look at the whole sky. The missiles sees a very small area (think looking through a soda straw). Both aircraft would have to be in that very small area for the missile to switch targets.