Girkin confirms that militant captured by Ukrainian Security Service was commander of air defense during MH17 air disaster
Ex-Minister of Defense of the so-called DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) Igor Girkin (Strelkov) confirmed that the Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Tsemakh who had been captured by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in the town of Snizhne, was "the commander of the air defense" of the pro-Russia militants in July 2014.
"Borisovich" (a nickname of Tsemakh) was the chief of air defense in Snizhne in July-August 2014. Before that, he was the crew commander of of ZU-23-2 anti-air systems in Semenovka, and he excelled at this position," — Girkin wrote on his VKontakte page.
At the same time, Girkin insists that Tsemakh and other militants are not responsible for the Boeing MN-17 crash.
Daughter of Tsemakh previously said that her father was appointed as "the chief of air defense in October 2014".
Earlier, journalist Yuri Butusov said that Tsemakh is vital for the investigation because previously there were no witnesses in the case of Boeing MN-17 that was shot down near the town of Snizhne in the Donbas.