&gt;I&#x27;m curious about the Ukrainian response here. Did they not consider the possibility that the rebel forces would be able to operate their BUK, or was it willfully ignored?<p>it was the issue of propaganda and responsibility (imagine yourself an officer in the chain of command related to the captured BUKs). 2&#x2F;3 of their Navy switched allegiance to Russia. Other regular forces also didn&#x27;t have much enthusiasm for fighting. Ukraine claimed that the captured BUK systems were made un-operational  before being captured. Which as far as i know - my general understanding of the situation and various sources i&#x27;ve read - is just not true.