"do you seriously believe Russians would go to provoke them with a practically defenseless bomber (even anti-IR pods were not present)?!"
Yes, of course. Russia knew what they were doing and why - they set their own rules, lie about their application of others, and have an agenda all their own.
Why would anyone seriously believe that Russia have sent their airplane (deaf to Guard frequency) where they did in complete ignorance of Turkey's repeated objections and warnings and by "mistake". Oh, I know, the Russian forces have no knowledge of the electromagnetic spectrum, radio frequencies and the such.
Russia deliberately and precisely disrespected Turkey's sovereignty, so that some would argue about 17 seconds and a few kilometers and blame the one that was actually wronged. It was no mistake, no miscalculation and at the expense of the poor Lt Colonel and his family.
It's pure Russian (nee Soviet) behavior to sow chaos, lies and turmoil. Assad fits right into their fold as he welcomes Russia's slaughter of his own people, since he was losing the means to do so himself.
Hopefully the coalition, in spite of Russia's designs, can make progress against the ISIL for the sake of international security, but I see little hope for the population of Syria who remain one way or the other.