UN: Russia Responsible for Downing Of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17

The United Nations aviation agency ruled this week that Russia was responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, an incident that killed hundreds and sparked calls for accountability and reparations from families of victims, the BBC reported. 

On Monday, the UN’s Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) found that Russia “failed to uphold its obligations under international air law,” which requires nations to “refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.” 

Flight MH17 was traveling from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia when it was shot down by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. 

At the time, Ukrainian troops were fighting Russian-backed separatists. 

All 298 passengers and crew members were killed, including 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents. 

Monday’s decision followed a case filed three years ago by Australia and the Netherlands, which sought compensation and an official apology from Moscow. 

Both countries welcomed Monday’s decision, with Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp saying it marked an “important step toward establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability.” 

The ICAO added this was the first time in its history that its council has decided on the merits of a dispute between member states, the Guardian noted. 

Russia did not comment on the ruling, but has repeatedly denied any involvement in the crash and withdrew from negotiations with Australia and the Netherlands in October 2020. 

In November 2022, a Dutch court found that a Russian-backed group had downed the plane and convicted two Russians and a pro-Moscow Ukrainian national of murder in absentia.  

Although all three men were sentenced to life imprisonment, they were never extradited and remain at large.