Ukrainian special forces capture separatist commander suspected in Malaysia Airlines flight shootdown

Published July 5, 2019 1:28pm ET



Ukrainian special operations forces reportedly went behind enemy lines to arrest a former commander of pro-Russian separatists who is suspected of being involved in the shootdown of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Ukrainian forces captured Vladimir Tsemach June 27 at his apartment in Snizhne, a city in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine. Tsemach, 58, is believed to have been the commander of a Russian-backed air defense unit when MH17 was shot down on July 17, 2014. The crash left 283 passengers and 15 crew members dead. A majority of the passengers on the flight, which left Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur, were Dutch.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.