Qatar Purchases Missiles from Ukraine to Arm ISIL against Russian Fighter Jets

CyberBerkut said that it’s in possession of documents showing that employees of the Ukrainian state-owned defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom had discussions with Qatari government officials over the possible sale of surface-to-air missiles in September, according to al-Akhbar newspaper.

Back in September 2015, being aware of Russia’s plans to launch anti-terrorist air campaign, a Qatari delegation from the Ministry of Defense traveled to Kiev to take part in the Arms and Security Expo, September 22-27, 2015.

They reached a deal with UkrOboronProm (a state-run Ukrainian arms trader) to purchase the modernized Air Defense Missile Complex ‘Pechora-2D’.

On Sept. 30 Volodimir Kuruts, the Trade Counselor of the Ukrainian Embassy in Qatar, wrote to his business contact in Cyprus Vasyl Babytskiy, director of the Blessway Ltd.

“Thank you for Morocco and Saudi contacts. It was right in time. The locals have been to Kiev at the Expo, are about to buy ‘Pechora’ and something more serious. The issue of delivery is pending. Our side will not be able to do that. You have a chance to make good money. Try to talk to the military guys. The probability is high as the yankees agreed. Bulgarians and Turks are aware, the route is the same,” he wrote.

Observers believe that the revealed information clearly indicates that the Qatar Ministry of Defense is arranging supplies of the Ukrainian air defense systems to Syria-based terrorist organizations via Bulgaria and Turkey. The US officers in Qatar have approved the deals.

They also say that taking into account that “Pechora 2D” system is able to strike the aircrafts at the heights up to 21 km, the investigation of the A321 Metrojet downfall over Sinai may receive an unexpected turn.

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