Ukrainian missile 'misfired', fell on a market in the east of the country?

Kyiv previously claimed that the September 6 incident that killed at least 15 people in Kostiantynivka (in Ukraine’s Donetsk province) was caused by a Russian missile. However, according to an investigation by The New York Times (NYT) , this does not appear to be the case.

“Evidence collected and analyzed by the Times , including missile fragments, satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts and social media posts, clearly shows that the catastrophic attack was the result of a misdirected anti-aircraft missile launched by Ukraine from a Buk system,” the newspaper said in a September 19 report.

Scene of the market hit by a missile in Kostiantynivka on September 6

The newspaper quoted air defense experts as saying that missiles like the one that hit the market in Kostiantynivka could have veered off course for a number of reasons, including failures related to the electronic system, as well as damage or shearing of the guidance fins during launch.

They said security camera video showed the missile flying into Kostiantynivka from the direction of Ukrainian-controlled territory, not from behind Russian lines.

The NYT also provided evidence showing that minutes before the attack, the Ukrainian military launched two surface-to-air missiles toward the front line from the city of Druzhkivka, 10 miles northwest of Kostiantynivka.

The newspaper quoted two witnesses as saying they saw missiles being fired from Druzhkivka towards the Russian frontline around the time of the attack. One was quoted as saying the missile was flying towards Kostiantynivka.

The size of the hole caused by the explosion and fragments found at the scene were consistent with a 9M38 missile fired from a Buk system, the newspaper said. The Buk system is used by both Ukraine and Russia.

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The NYT quoted a spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces as saying that Kyiv's security service was investigating the incident and could not comment further under the country's laws.

Russia did not immediately comment on the NYT report.

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