NYT claims Ukrainian missile hit market in Kostiantynivka: Ukraine reacts

The New York Times claims that the tragedy was caused by a malfunction of a Ukrainian air defense missile fired from the Buk launch system. The journalists came to this conclusion after analyzing missile fragments, satellite images, eyewitness accounts and social media posts.

Reporters quoted air defense experts as saying missiles such as the one that hit Kostiantynivka can go off course for a variety of reasons, including an electronic malfunction or having a guidance fin that is damaged or sheared off during launch.

The publication claims that the Ukrainian authorities initially tried to prevent The Times journalists from accessing the wreckage and the crash zone immediately after the strike, but they were able to get to the scene.

The investigation states that surveillance footage shows that the missile flew into Kostiantynivka from the side of the Ukrainian-controlled territory.

It said that as the sound of the approaching missile was heard, at least four pedestrians appear to simultaneously turn their heads toward the incoming sound in the direction of Ukrainian-held territory.

The newspaper has also released a video featuring, moments before the strike, the missile’s reflection visible as it passes over two parked cars as it appears to travel from the north-west.

Experts also claim that the crater and the damage caused by the explosion are consistent with a missile flying from a north-western route.

The newspaper says that a few minutes before the strike, the Ukrainian military fired two surface-to-air missiles towards the front line from Druzhkivka.

"Reporters with The Times were in Druzhkivka when they heard an outgoing missile launch at 2 p.m," the investigation says.

It is noted that the initial launch was also reported by residents of Druzhkivka on Telegram. The journalists claim that the time of these launches is consistent with the time when the missile hit the market in Kostyantynivka at around 2:04 p.m.

At the time, the Ukrainian authorities claimed that the missile fired was a Russian S-300. Journalists, in turn, argue that the consequences of the missile explosion are not typical of the S-300.

"The size and shape of the impact holes and shrapnel found at the scene are consistent with the size and shape of one weapon: a 9M38 missile launched by a Buk mobile anti-aircraft system," the newspaper said, citing comments from two experts.

Ukraine’s Security Service comment on the NYT article

In a comment to Ukrayinska Pravda, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that an investigation is underway and that the attack on Kostiantynivka was carried out by Russia.

"The SBU is investigating another war crime committed by the Russian Federation, which concerns the shelling of the market in Kostiantynivka on September 6 this year. The investigation is being conducted under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war). According to the investigation, the enemy hit this civilian facility with an S-300 system. This is evidenced, in particular, by the identified missile fragments recovered at the scene of the tragedy," the statement said.

Reaction of the Ukrainian Presidential Office to the claim

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Presidential Office, reminded that it is Russia that conducts massive strikes on the territory of Ukraine and stressed that the investigation is ongoing, so the truth will be established.

"Undoubtedly, the appearance of publications in foreign media questioning Russia's involvement in the strike on Kostiantynivka leads to the growth of conspiracy theories, and therefore will require additional legal assessment by the investigating authorities. The public will get an answer to the question of what exactly happened in Kostiantynivka. As in thousands of other cases of Russian strikes on our country as part of an unprovoked war. I would like to remind you that law enforcement agencies, by default, conduct a thorough and detailed investigation of each incident as part of the recording and documentation of Russian war crimes. In particular, the circumstances of the strike on Konstantynivka are being investigated. In any case, the legal truth will be established. In the meantime, we should not forget that it was Russia that launched the invasion of Ukraine, and it is Russia that is responsible for bringing war to our country. And it is Russia that regularly launches massive missile, bomb and drone strikes against civilian infrastructure and civilians. Ukraine, on the other hand, is exclusively defensive, protecting itself and its territories," he said in his commentary.

• On the afternoon of September 6, the Russian occupation army attacked Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region, causing 16 deaths and 37 injuries.