The separatist shot down an AN_26 which has a service ceiling of 25,000 ft. The airliner was cruising at 33,000 ft. Why would the separatists shoot down an aircraft traveling thousands of feet higher than the supposed targeted AN_26?
Good question, Mashood. I doubt the separatists have the same level of familiarity with the Buk/SA-17 system that the Russian and Ukrainian armies have, or that they have established safeguard protocols in place like most professional armed forces do. The separatists are at war with the Kiev government and want to shoot down Ukrainian aircraft to further demoralize the Ukrainian armed forces and reduce their will to fight.