That wasn’t an accident, and the Russian separatists weren’t conducting a “drill,” either.
What would the Ukraine separatists gain by deliberately shooting down a civilian airliner? Aside from world condemnation, the likes of John McCaniac saying there will “to be hell to pay”, and more than likely more aide to their Kiev enemies and more sanctions on their Russian allies. Other than that its genius!
~That wasnt an accident, and the Russian separatists werent conducting a drill, either.~
True, not a drill. Their cities were bombed for weeks, dozens of military aircraft were shot in the area, yet some idiot flew a commercial aircraft there.
Of course, shooting it without proper identification is so wrong on many levels but you can’t judge militias as if they are a professional military.
Not to mention Ukraine has systems like that too, they claimed Russian fighter jet’s incursion and wowed response. And Ukrainian forces are notorious for their incompetence.
Yes, rebels most likely bragged about shooting another transport before they knew what happen but it is that rebels do all the time even if things are falling on themselves.
Though I agree that the version of rebel action as a cause is the most realistic.