Recordings genuine, says US embassy [ with transcripts ]

KIEV: Alleged intercepted phone conversations released by Ukraine's security service of pro-Russian rebels discussing how they shot down Malaysian airliner MH17 are genuine, the US embassy in Kiev said Sunday.
Ukraine's SBU security agency on Thursday released recordings of what it claimed were phone talks involving rebels and a Russian military intelligence officer admitting that they had hit the passenger jet after mistaking it for a military aircraft.
The recordings were presented as key evidence to back up Kiev's claims that rebels -- supported by Russia -- downed the jet while the separatists accused Ukraine's army of being responsible.
"Audio data provided to the press by the Ukrainian security service was evaluated by Intelligence Community analysts who confirmed these were authentic conversations between known separatist leaders," the US embassy in Ukraine said in a statement.
In one of the recordings a rebel commander nicknamed the "Major" says rebels shot down the plane and tells a disbelieving comrade that the jet is "100% a civilian aircraft."
On Sunday Ukraine's security agency released a fresh batch of alleged leaked conversations of rebels organising to hide the flight's black boxes from international monitors at the crash site.
The transcripts of the intercepted calls show that rebels on the ground were receiving instructions from superiors in Russian military intelligence (GRU), that they discussed receipt, disposition (including hiding), and use of BUKs to bring down Ukrainian planes, that at least one BUK had come into Ukraine across the Russian border, that there was a crew that knew how to operate it, that there was likely more than one BUK, that the rebels considered the BUKs a game changer, and that they were expecting some sort of Russian hostile action launched from across the border.
 Talks between terrorists, July 14
Oleh – Oleh Bugrov Valeriovych, army chief of staff of self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, deputy minister of defense of "LNR"
Oreon – a citizen of the Russian Federation, officer of Main Intelligence Directorate (to be identified).
Oleh: Worked out a plane near Stanitsa. Missed.
Oreon: Great. This way they are taking revenge on planes, but only several days remain. Now we have BUK, will bring them (planes) down.
 talks between terrorists, July 17
Khmuryi – Sergei Nikolaevich Petrovskiy, officer of Main Intelligence Directorate of Russian Federation, Deputy Chief of Igor Girkin on Intelligence; at the time of the interception he was in Donetsk.
Buryat – militant of rebel group "DNR," or Donetsk People's Republic (to be identified).
Buryat: Where should we load this beauty, Nikolaievich?
Khmuryi: Which one? This one?
B: Yes, the one I've brought. I'm already in Donetsk.
K: Is it the one I'm thinking about? "B…,"M" one?
B: Yes, yes, yes. "BUK","BUK".
K: Is it on a tractor?
B: Yes, it's on it. We need to unload it somewhere, in order to hide.
K: Is it with a crew?
B: Yes, with the crew.
K: Don't hide it anywhere. She'll go there now.
 July 17
Khmuryi: Tell me, have you brought me one or two?
Buryat: One, one. Because they had a misunderstanding there. They didn't give us a tug. We loaded it and went at their own pace.
K: Did it go on her own or on a tug?
B: It crossed the line (border).
H: And now have you brought it on a tug? Don't put in anywhere … I'll tell now where it should go, it will go together with "Vostok" tanks.
 July 17
Khmuryi and "Sanych" – militant of terrorist organisation "DNR". Deputy of Khmuryi.
K: Sanych, the point is that my "BUK–M" will go with yours, it is on a tug. Where should I drive it to put in a column?
Sanych: There, behind "Motel", not reaching Hornostaevka.
K: Just after the Motel, right?
 July 17
Khmuryi: Listen to me carefully, behind the circle near "Motel" there will be you know what. Call to "Bibliotekar" (librarian). Bring inside only those, who just came back, only as much as you need for the convoy. Leave everyone else here. Not far away there is Pervomaiskoe, look at the map.
DNR militant: I got it.
Khmuryi: Settle somewhere in that area, bring there those who are left. Your task is reserve, plus protection of this piece, which you will drive now, "Giyrza" will come there too. If anything, I'm on line.
DNR militant: Ok.
 July 17
Khmuryi and Botsman – officer of Main Intelligence Directorate of Russian Federation (to be identified).
K: Yes, Botsman, I'm listening.
B: Hello, big brother. How are you?
K: Not so well. We are in Mariinovka. That's why not well. Carrying on.
B: What's wrong?
K: What do you think? (The Ukrainian army is) attacking with "Grad" (multiple-rocket launchers) all the time, finally now we're having a little break. We've just hit a plane, Su–type. Because we've got BUK–M. They (Ukrainian soldiers) are now in Zelenopillja, trying to break free, but their way out is only through me. Yesterday we hit 2 Su jets, today – another two. Thank God "BUK–M" arrived today in the morning. It became easier. But in general, of course, it's tough.
B: What can I say, if you need anything, call me – and I'll arrive immediately.
H: Thanks, brother. I'm going in two hours … Seems like it's a lull. In two hours I'm heading to Donetsk. Because I was sent three more "Gvozdika" (self–propelled artillery). Will carry "Gvozdikas" here because it's really tough now.
B: Maybe we should cover them with (our own) Grad (multiple-rocket launchers)?
H: The thing is that we have Grad, but no spotter. And secondly, we are waiting for Russia to f*** them from their side.
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was allegedly shot down by a group of Russian-backed Cossack militants near the village of Chornukhine, Luhansk Oblast, some 80km north-west of Donetsk, according to recordings of intercepted phone calls between Russian military intelligence officers and members of terrorist groups, released by the country's security agency (SBU).
 July 17
Igor Bezler: We have just shot down a plane. Group Minera. It fell down beyond Yenakievo (Donetsk Oblast).
Vasili Geranin: Pilots. Where are the pilots?
IB: Gone to search for and photograph the plane. It's smoking.
VG: How many minutes ago?
IB: About 30 minutes ago.
SBU comment: After examining the site of the plane the terrorists come to the conclusion that they have shot down a civilian plane. The next part of the conversation took place about 40 minutes later.
Major: These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those Cossacks who are based in Chernukhino.
Grek: Yes, Major.
Major: The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first "200" (code word for dead person). We have found the first "200". A civilian.
Grek: Well, what do you have there?
Major: In short, it was 100 percent a passenger (civilian) aircraft.
Grek: Are many people there?
Major: Holy sh t! The debris fell right into the yards (of homes).
Grek: What kind of aircraft?
Major: I haven't ascertained this. I haven't been to the main sight. I am only surveying the scene where the first bodies fell. There are the remains of internal brackets, seats and bodies.
Grek: Are there any weapons?
Major: Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper.
Grek: Are there documents?
Major: Yes, of one Indonesian student. From a university in Thompson.
Militant: Regarding the plane shot down in the area of Snizhne-Torez. It's a civilian one. Fell down near Grabove. There are lots of corpses of women and children. The Cossacks are out there looking at all this.
They say on TV it's AN-26 transport plane, but they say it's written Malaysia Airlines on the plane. What was it doing on Ukraine's territory?
Nikolay Kozitsin: That means they were carrying spies. They shouldn't be f king flying. There is a war going on.