Almost five years after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was downed by a rocket over eastern Ukraine, investigators have identified four people they believe to be responsible, NBC News reported.
The international team said Wednesday that charges will be brought against three Russians who used to have senior roles in that country's military and security services, along with a Ukrainian. They are believed to have been active in a breakaway part of Ukraine controlled by Russian fighters, from which the missile was launched.
"The possibility exists that the suspects wanted to shoot a military plane instead of a passenger flight. Even if that was the original plan we do hold them responsible for downing MH17," chief public prosecutor Fred Westerbeke said at a news conference.
Before the findings were released, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to reject them, saying Russia was shut out of the investigation.