Russia claims new data show rebels didn’t down MH17

MOSCOW – The Russian military says radiolocation data show that the missile that downed a Malaysian airliner over warring eastern Ukraine in 2014 was not fired from territory controlled by Russia-backed rebels.

The claim on Monday came two days before a Dutch-led investigative team is to release a report on where the missile was fired from that hit flight MH17, killing all 298 people aboard. The team is gathering evidence for a possible criminal trial.

A separate investigation reported last year that a Buk missile shot down the flight and that it was fired from rebel-held territory, but did not specify who had fired it.

Russia has consistently rejected allegations that rebels fired the missile. It said the new data would be turned over to investigators.

It was not clear why the data cited Monday had not been previously reported.