Ukrainian Su-25 was approaching Malaysian Boeing, Russian officials say

Russian radars recorded a Ukrainian Su-25, that was supposedly flying in the direction of the Malaysian jetliner that crashed above the territory of Ukraine, representatives of the General Staff said at a press conference.

"An aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was gaining altitude, its distance from the Malaysian Boeing ranged from 3 to 5 km, according to our records," the head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, Andrei Kartopolov said.

The general noted that the Su-25 is capable of reaching the altitude of ten kilometers and striking targets at a distance of 12 kilometers. "We would like to have an answer to the question as to what purpose the Ukrainian aircraft was flying on the civil track, at the same level with the Malaysian Boeing," said Kartopolov.

On July 17, the plane of Malaysia Airlines crashed on the territory of the Donetsk region. There were 298 people on board; all of them were killed.