You're reading: Most Russians blame Boeing crash on Ukrainian authorities, military – poll

Moscow - Russians are upset about the Malaysian Boeing crash in the Donetsk region and blame the Ukrainian administration and army for the tragedy, sociologists told Interfax.

A poll conducted by the Levada Center in Aug. 1-4, which surveyed 1,600 respondents living in 134 populated areas in 46 regions of Russia, showed that practically all respondents (91 percent) had heard about the tragedy. Fifty percent of the respondents said the crash is the most memorable event that occurred in July.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people aboard.

Experts believe a missile attack was a possible cause of the tragedy.

When asked to share their emotions about the disaster, 64 percent of the respondents said they have compassion for the victims and their relatives, 27 percent said they were outraged by the news about the crash, and 13 percent said the crash has scared them.

Nine percent of the respondents said they did not have any particular emotions about the crash, 1 percent said they have a sense of guilt, and 2 percent were undecided.

Speaking about the main culprits in the crash, 50 percent of the respondents blamed the Ukrainian administration, 45 percent said the Ukrainian military are responsible for it, and 20 percent blamed the crash on the U.S. Only 2 percent of the respondents concluded that the crash was caused by actions taken by the militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, and 11 percent were undecided.

Because the respondents could choose several answers, the total answers exceed 100 percent.