Ukraine Apologizes for Accidentally Shooting Down Russian Tu-154 PlaneUkrainian Defense Minister Alexander Kuzmuk made an official apology Saturday to families and relatives of those killed in the Russian Tu-154 airliner crash on October 4."I'm apologizing to families and relatives of the victims, as well as to the president, government, parliament and the Ukrainian people for tarnishing the Ukrainian State's authority in this accident," he said at a press conference. "Though we do not know the exact cause of the tragedy, we are quite aware of our direct involvement in it," Kuzmuk said, adding that the causes won't be buried in the Black Sea bed. At another press conference, Ukraine's Air Defense Chief Commander Vladimir Tkachev said he and his deputy have submitted resignations over the Russian plane crash. A total of 78 people aboard the Russian Tu-154 airplane were killed when the plane, en route from Tel Aviv to the Russian Siberian city of Novosibirsk, exploded and plunged into the Black Sea coast off Russia. Some reports quoted U.S. intelligence officials as saying the plane was mistakenly hit by a Ukrainian S-200 missile during military exercises on the Crimean peninsula. This, however, was immediately and categorically denied by the Ukrainian side. Ukraine's stance has appeared to soften since Wednesday when Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma said he would accept the judgment of a joint investigation group, which was comprised of experts form Russia, Ukraine and Israel. On Friday, the group announced a preliminary conclusion claiming the Russian Tu-154 was hit by an anti-aircraft missile. On the same day, Kuchma ordered a mixed commission to look into causes of the accident in close cooperation with the Russian side. |
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