I recall that when this rebel movement began to make the headlines, that a rebel force had captured a Ukrainian airfield and captured a quantity of munitions and armament including weapons such as these SAMs. Of course, everything in that part of the world is Russian made, both sides of the conflict. So to say the SAM was Russian is correct, but not necessarily given to them during the present hostilities. IMO
Whhat say ye??
It’s certainly possible. The Ukrainians claim that none of their missile systems were lost. Even if the separatists pilfered the system from the Ukrainians, their actions immediately after the shootdown are questionable. And we know the Russians are arming them, anyway.
1) The Ukrainians say they aren't missing any.
2) Russkies always lie about capturing stuff right before they send it in. Before it was scrubbed, Russian media claimed they captured Buks from Ukraine, but this was only carried by Russian media, and not reported on independently by anyone else.
3) The Buks in question were seen and photographed fleeing to Russia shortly after they realized their "problem."
WSJ - GOPe
Kiev was quick to put videos out there of the BU...which has now been proved to be Ukrainian. But the idea was to immediately distract anyone from pointing the finger at Kiev... Coupled with this Obama’s constant push for Media to blame Russia “for everything”, which was his agenda from the get go of the revolution to all media. But became and still is such an overkill pace that even International Leaders grew suspicious there was more to this than media Obama was letting on......And of course there is. Kiev Gov. has consistently been made out to be the innocent party of all these happenings, when in fact, as they are investigated ,shown to be the very ones inciting these. Kiev media has an American team working their propaganda and reports... Kiev itself can make no moves without the US authorities there permitting it. So of course it will always be to deflect from Obama or the US as party to anything.