We saw the hit, we saw plane disappear, says John Kerry on MH17

US officials received real-time satellite images showing a Russia-supplied BUK missile being fired at MH17.

SHOCKED US officials watched as they received real-time satellite images showing a Russia-supplied BUK missile being fired at Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry revealed yesterday the Americans then saw the airline vanish from sight. It had 298 passengers and crew aboard including 38 Australian citizens and residents. “This type of weapon, all the evidence of it was seen on our imagery,” Mr Kerry said after the annual AUSMIN summit.

“We saw the take-off. We saw the trajectory, we saw the hit. We saw this aeroplane disappear from the radar screens. So there is really no mystery about where it came from and where these weapons have come from.”

But a full investigation was needed to legitimise whatever steps would ultimately be taken. “That is why we are all pressing so hard for that.”

Bringing the culprits to account would help ensure that never happened again, he said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was scathing about Russia’s role in the crisis and suggestions it would use humanitarian issues as an excuse to invade Ukraine.

She said any attempt by Russia to intervene in Ukraine under the guise of dealing with a humanitarian crisis would be seen as the transparent artifice that it was.

“Australia would condemn in the strongest possible terms any effort by Russia to enter Ukraine under the guise of some kind of humanitarian mission,” Ms Bishop said. Australia would consider all available sanctions options. She urged China to help persuade Moscow to stop sending weapons and personnel into Ukraine. “Russia’s behaviour in recent months has been to breach the sovereignty of Ukraine,” she said.