Yevhen MARCHUK : “It hurts me as a Ukrainian citizen to say this”

On October 12 Ukrainian Security and Defense Council Secretary Yevhen Marchuk said in Sochi, “Relying on the conclusions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which took part in the work of the Russian state commission, expert examinations, the conclusions of the technical commission, and the Interstate Aviation Committee, we are making the tentative technical conclusion that the crash of this aircraft could have been caused by an unintentional hit of the S-200 missile during a Ukrainian air defense exercise.

“As is clear from the materials, this tragic accident could have occurred through a fault in the antiaircraft missile system.

“It hurts me as a Ukrainian citizen to say this, but there are ample grounds to support this version,” Mr. Marchuk said. Meanwhile, President Leonid Kuchma that same day decided to set up an interdepartmental commission which will carry out in conjunction with Russia a profound and comprehensive study of what caused the tragedy and why. Final conclusions will be made only after all studies have been completed in both Russia and Ukraine. As Vladimir Rushailo, Secretary of the National Security Council of the Russian Federation, noted, “the Russian side will provide Ukraine with all the necessary materials and is asking the Ukrainian side to inform us about the results of the work they do.”