Eleven years after the disaster: UN aviation organization blames Russia for MH17 downing

Russia's responsibility for the downing of a passenger plane carrying 298 people over eastern Ukraine eleven years ago has now been confirmed by the UN Civil Aviation Organization . The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Monday blamed the Russian Federation for the disaster, thus agreeing with the Netherlands and Australia , which are demanding legal action for the deaths of dozens of their compatriots.

"The decision is an important step towards uncovering the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of flight MH17, as well as their families and loved ones," said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp. The decision sends a clear message to the international community that states cannot violate international law with impunity.

The Australian government also welcomed the decision and called for the next step to compensate the victims' families as soon as possible. The Australian Foreign Ministry appealed to Moscow: "We call on Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific crime of violence and provide reparations for its egregious conduct, as required by international law."

On July 17, 2014, the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-130, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was hit by a Russian anti-aircraft missile fired by pro-Russian rebels over contested territory in eastern Ukraine. All 298 people on board were killed, including 193 Dutch nationals, 27 Australians, and four Germans.

According to international investigations, the Buk anti-aircraft system was brought across the border into eastern Ukraine from a Russian military base and then transported back after being shot down. This was the initial phase of the fighting, which would later escalate and ultimately lead to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Two Russians and a Ukrainian were sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia by a Dutch court in 2022 for 298 counts of murder. Russia continues to deny any responsibility and refuses to extradite the men.

The UN aviation organization, founded 80 years ago, described its decision on Monday as a historic first: For the first time, a dispute between member states had been adjudicated within the framework of the ICAO's dispute resolution mechanism. The arguments put forward by the Netherlands and Australia for their claims were convincing both in terms of content and legal considerations.