Ukrainian jet shot down; Russia claims USA is using blackmail; Malaysian flight crashed in Ukraine, was it shot down?

Russian SU-25 jet

The Ukrainian government in Kiev is claiming that one of its jets was shot down today:

July 17, 2104

In the latest escalation of the conflict on the Ukrainian-Russian border, Kyiv said a Russian jet shot down one of its warplanes, its strongest accusation yet of direct Russian military involvement in the war.

A Ukrainian military spokesman said the pilot of the SU-25 fighter ejected to safety.

On the ground in eastern Ukraine, fierce fighting between government forces and pro-Moscow rebels has intensified in recent days with some 55 civilians killed since the weekend alone.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council on Thursday accused a Russian air force plane of downing its jet over Ukrainian territory the day before with an air-to-air missile strike.

Russia has not responded to the claim.

The fighting even forced a group of more than a dozen Ukrainian border guards to flee into Russia seeking medical help for their injuries, the Russian authorities said.

Andrey Lysenko also said Ukrainian troops had been fired upon by missiles from a village just inside Russia.

Accusations

Officials in Kyiv have recently accused Russia’s armed forces of being directly implicated in attacks on Ukrainian troops battling an insurgency near the border. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-claims-air-force-jet-downed-by-russian-missile/1959420.html

Kiev, the European Union, and the USA believe that Russia has been more involved in stirring up actions in the east of Ukraine. Enough so, that new sanctions were imposed against Russia. Russia calls the new sanction blackmail from the USA:

July 17, 2014

The United States and the European Union imposed new sanctions Wednesday, striking at the heart of Vladimir Putin’s powerbase by targeting companies closest to him over Moscow’s failure to curb violence in Ukraine…

Several U.S. senators praised the Obama administration move.

“Timing is everything in foreign policy. Sanctions are part of an overall strategy,” Senator Johnny Isakson told the VOA.

“We have to let Russia know that we fully expect them to withdraw from Ukraine, we expect them to be a better partner with the rest of the free world. And, as time goes by, if they do not do that, then sanctions will ratchet up,” Isakson added.

Senator Lindsay Graham agreed, saying the sanctions are a ‘good step in the right direction. I hope Europe will follow. We need more [sanctions].”

Russian reaction

The Russian foreign ministry reacted to sanctions in a furious statement: “We do not intend to tolerate blackmail and reserve the right to take retaliatory measures” against the U.S.

Moscow denounced what it called primitive revenge for events in Ukraine and pledged to retaliate.

Putin said the U.S. sanctions would hurt U.S. energy companies and warned that sanctions would inflict “very serious damage” on the already tattered U.S-Russia relationship.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the sanctions evil, said they would not “bring anyone to their knees.”

Medvedev in televised remarks said the sanctions are throwing Russia’s relations with the West “back to the 1980s” and added that Russia “will have to pay more attention to military and security spending.” http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-calls-latest-us-sanctions-blackmail/1959339.html

July 17, 2014

Russia’s Foreign Ministry on July 17 said it was disappointed that the European Union “succumbed to the blackmail of the U.S. administration and, contradicting its own interests, followed the path of sanctions” against Moscow. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/reuters-russia-says-eu-blackmailed-by-washington-into-tougher-sanctions-356393.html

July 17, 2014

The Obama administration’s newest sanctions against Russia for its continued aggression in the Ukraine could prompt retaliation against U.S. business interests around the world, analysts said Thursday.

If that happens, economic recoveries in Russia, the U.S. and Europe could suffer to consequences.

Nomura analyst Dmitri Petrov said in a note to clients that Russia could decide to “retaliate asymmetrically, creating a separate tit-for-tat spiral between the U.S. and Russia that could be damaging to the Russian but also European economies.”

In other words, if Russia decides to retaliate by freezing out U.S. companies while also failing to tone down its entanglement in the Ukraine, the U.S. will be forced to fight back with more sanctions against additional Russian companies. http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy-policy/2014/07/17/retaliation-may-follow-latest-russian-sanctions/

The situation in Ukraine remains volatile and tense. Vladimir Putin has long wanted to restore his version of a new Soviet Union which he calls the Eurasian Union. Bible prophecy does show that a Russian-led Eurasian confederation will ultimately form (for details, see The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy). While, based upon past statements, I believe that the Russian leadership has wanted to increase its military spending, I believe that the sanctions are giving it better political cover to do so.

As far as the USA goes, the sanctions will not hurt its economy very much. The European Union that has much closer economic ties to Russia than the USA does.

Russia wants all of Ukraine. It has Crimea and reportedly is helping those in the east of Ukraine who want to be independent of Kiev. Since the USA has repeatedly stated that it will not engage in actual war with Russia over Ukraine and the fact that the European Union does not want to harm its economy more than the current sanctions might, it may well be that Russia will conclude that it has little further to lose if it supports the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The leaders of peoples that are the descendants of the Medes are prophesied to get together (Jeremiah 51:11, 28-29). The events in Ukraine, Crimea, and Russia seem to be leading towards that direction.

UPDATE: The following was reported today after I wrote the above:

A Malaysian Airlines passenger plane with 295 aboard was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in Ukraine near the Russian border, according to multiple reports.

The airline, which saw one of its fleet disappear over the Indian Ocean in March, confirmed only that “an incident” had occurred involving the Boeing 777, which was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.

“Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam,” read a tweet from the airline. “The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace. More details to follow,” read a tweet from Malaysia Airlines’ account.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he has directed the country’s Ministry of Defense to investigate the incident, according to a message on his Twitter account. He said he could not confirm that the plane was shot down.

But multiple reports, including from Russia’s Interfax news agency, said the plane was shot down at cruising altitude. Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Minister told The Associated press that the plane, carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew people onboard, was shot down. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/17/malaysia-airlines-jet-reportedly-crashes-in-ukraine/

GRABOVO, Ukraine — A passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday as it flew over the country, a Ukrainian official said. Both the government and the pro-Russia separatists who have been fighting in the region denied any responsibility for downing the plane…

Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, said on his Facebook page the plane was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet. He said it was hit by a missile fired from a Buk launcher, which can fire missiles up to an altitude of 72,000 feet.

A rebel leader, Donetsk Prime Minister Alexander Borodai, told Kommersant FM radio that the rebels don’t have the Buk system and said that the Ukrainians brought down the plane. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/malaysia-airlines-flight-17-hit-denied-by-ukraine-pro-russian-rebels/

Whether it crashed or was shot down, this is horrible. And the second major incident involving a Malaysian jetliner this year. Those affected are in my prayers.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
Bible News Prophecy July-Sept. 2014: The Coming Eurasian Union Here is the latest magazine from the Continuing Church of God. The cover of which shows Vladimir Putin and features an article about the coming Eurasian Union.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.