Russia officially recognized as responsible for downing flight MH17 in Donbass, – ICAO decision

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has found the Russian Federation responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in the skies over Donbass in 2014. This was stated in a statement by the Dutch government .

The decision notes that the Russian Federation violated the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. Thus, the Council of the International Organization confirmed the rightness of the Netherlands and Australia, which filed a case against Russia in 2022.

"I welcome the decision of the ICAO Council, first and foremost for the relatives of the victims of flight MH17. This decision cannot take away their grief and suffering, but it is an important step towards truth, justice and accountability for all victims of flight MH17 and their relatives. In addition, this decision sends a clear signal to the international community that states cannot violate international law without consequences," said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.

The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiga, also responded to the ICAO Council’s decision on this case.

"I welcome the important conclusion of the ICAO Council, which confirms Russia's responsibility for the downing of flight MH17. This is another step towards restoring justice for this crime. And a clear message: no matter how much money and effort Russia invests in lies to cover up its crimes, the truth wins, and justice wins," he wrote on the social network X .

The downing of MH17

In July 2014, Russia shot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane in the skies over the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk Oblast. The plane was flying flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. There were 298 people on board – no one survived. More than 190 of the victims were Dutch citizens.

In 2022, the Hague court ruled that the plane was shot down by a Russian missile , launched from occupied territory. The court believes that flight MH17 was shot down by a Buk missile launched from an agricultural field near Pervomaysk.