A pro-Russian rebel leader and expert of the Bosnian War, Igor Strelkov had tweeted that he had shot down the Malaysian aircraft MH17 mistaking it for a Ukrainian Air Force transport plane.
Strelkov casually labeled the MH17 plane as a bird that fell near the mine, saving the residential area.
The rebel also posted a statement that said that they had warned Ukrainian forces not to fly in their area.
However, the post was deleted immediately after the news of Malaysian airlines crash came out.
Igor Strelkov is one of the most brutal pro-Russian leaders in the insurgency.
According to the Daily Express, Strelkov is a retired high-level Russian military intelligence colonel.