1) During this period in air there were three passenger planes, including "Boeing 777". Besides, the Russian control devices recorded ascent of the plane of the Ukrainian Air Force, allegedly Su-25, in the direction of the Malaysian Boeing. Su-25 from "Boeing" was about three to five kilometers. Kiev officials said that 17th July there wasn't any military airplanes.
Possibly.
Anyway, I dont believe the rebels intentionally shot down a civilian air plane. They have mistaken it for ukrainian military plane, the fact that there were some around when the crash occured is only detail.
2) The Russian military showed also space pictures of an arrangement of the Ukrainian Buk-1 complexes in the southeast of the country, claiming that in day of crash of "Boeing" air defense group of Ukraine near Donetsk totaled "three-four complexes", russian question was why there were Buk-1 if rebels don't have any planes.
I also think, as Xant said, that those SAM bataillons are there "in case". Whether it is in case that rebels captures airplanes, or other countries intervenes.
The army of Ukraine includes SAMs so why not deploy them around the battlefields? It would be dangerous to forget about air protection. Air superiority is the only advantage of the Ukrainian army against the rebels, and they must protect it.
3) To Donetsk "Boeing" went on the planned route, but further deviated a route to the north. The maximum deviation from the left border of a corridor was 14 km. Further maneuver on plane was returned to a route. What served as the exit reason for route borders, it will be possible to tell precisely only after interpretation of flight recorders
I'm not a pilot expert, but the deviation which ultimely caused the demise of many civilians, could have been a "shortcut" to get to destination faster. Whether it was sanctionned by the company or the pilots (or a secret FBI operation
), one may wonder, but I dont think it was directly manipulated to cause diplomatic backlash... what is sure is that some pro-Kiev/anti-russian politicians must be really happy about it.
on 4) I guess its just the usual fight "prove me wrong". Same thing happened with Russian/American spies caught in Ukraine.
Here, I tried to translate the most important info.
Thanks it was helpful.