KIEV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian government posted a YouTube video on Thursday that Ukrainian security officials say includes a phone call between a pro-Russian rebel leader and a Russian intelligence agent discussing the shoot-down of a plane.
Mashable cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the video.
The beginning of the audio, Ukraine's security services say, is between Igor Bezler, a pro-Russian rebel leader, and Vasili Geranin, a man Ukraine alleges to be a Russian intelligence agent. In the first line, Bezler allegedly says "We have just shot down a plane." (This line can also be translated to "We have seen a plane shot down," but then both translations says "cossacks" —Russian volunteers—from Chernukhino road block shot it down.)
The second half of the audio is between two unidentified men, named "Greek" and "Major."
According to a transcription of the video, provided by the Kyiv Post, the rebel tells the Russian intelligence, “We have just shot down a plane.” Later in the tape, one rebel, Greek, asks if there are weapons on board. Major responds: “Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper.”
“Are there any documents?” Greek asks the other. “Yes. Of an Indonesian student from Thompson University. Fuck.”
Here's the full translation of the video, provided by Kyiv Post:
Igor Bezler: We have just shot down a plane. Group Minera. It fell down beyond Yenakievo.
Vasili Geranin: Pilots. Where are the pilots?
IB: Gone to search for and photograph the plane. It's smoking.
VG: How many minutes ago?
IB: About 30 minutes ago.
After examining the site of the plane the terrorists come to the conclusion that they have shot down a civilian plane. The next part of the conversation took place about 40 minutes later.
“Major”: These are Chernukhin folks shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those cossacks who are based in Chernukhino.
“Greek”: Yes, Major.
"Major": The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first “200” (code word for dead person). We have found the first “200”. A Civilian.
Greek: Well, what do you have there?
Major: In short, it was 100 percent a passenger (civilian) aircraft.
Greek: Are many people there?
Major: Holy sh*t! The debris fell right into the yards (of homes).
Greek: What kind of aircraft?
Major: I haven’t ascertained this. I haven’t been to the main sight. I am only surveying the scene where the first bodies fell. There are the remains of internal brackets, seats and bodies.
Greek: Is there anything left of the weapon?
Major: Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper.
Greek: Are there documents?
Major: Yes, of one Indonesian student. From a university in Thompson. Fuck.
In a final phone call, included later in the recording, a rebel checks in with a Cossack commander.
Rebel: Regarding this plane that was downed in the Snizhne-Torez area. It turned out to be a passenger aircraft. It fell near Grabovo. A lot of bodies of women and children. Now the Cossacks are looking at all that.
Rebel: The TV said it was AN-26. A Ukrainian cargo plane. But Malaysia Airlines is written on it. What was it doing on Ukraine’s territory?
Cossack commander: It means they wanted to bring some spies to us. Fuck them. They should not fly, we are at war here.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing all 295 people on board. The plane was reportedly shot down in the embattled area, which for months has been the epicenter of conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose been accused of letting the months-long separatist movement grow rampant in Ukraine's east, pointed the finger at Ukraine itself on Thursday. He said the Flight 17 disaster would never have happened if Kiev hadn't renewed its anti-terrorist operation against the rebels in the country's east.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.