Russia and Australia are officially caught up in a political pissing contest to try and explain the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in July of this year.
Earlier this week, at the APEC summit, Tony Abbott partially made good on his promise to ‘shirtfront’ Vladimir Putin, claiming he had information suggesting the plane was shot down by a missile launcher that came from Russia.
Russia have since challenged that claim, and ahead of Putin’s arrival in Brisbane for the G20, have released what they claim is a satellite image showing a Ukrainian fighter jet shooting the flight down.
The Courier Mail report that the images, from an unknown source, aired on Russia’s state broadcasting service overnight, showing what appears to be a Mig-29 fighter plane shooting near the passenger flight.
Russian state broadcaster produces ‘satellite images’ showing fighter jet attack on MH17
http://t.co/lp9qc5IRTZ pic.twitter.com/750AGSvVCG
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) November 14, 2014
The initial report into the downing of MH17 said that the plane’s fuselage was punctured by “high energy objects”, but did not mention the source from which these objects might have originated.
The internet has nonetheless called bullshit on the images, with the consensus being that they make the Photoshop work on Kim Kardashian‘s greasy butt look “subtle and restrained’ by comparison.
Equestrian enthusiast and occasional shirt-wearer Putin arrived in Brisbane last night, rolling with an entourage of un-fuck-with-able dudes – the man-mountain on his right must still be spewing that he missed out on a part in Game Of Thrones.
Russia has already trolled Australia by sending a fleet of warships here for the G20, as a reminder not to mess with them. This latest development should make the G20 welcome BBQ, which is happening right about now in Brisbane, quite awkward indeed.
Photo: Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images
