Twelve years since the downing of Flight MH17: the continued fight for truth and justice
On behalf of the governments of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine.
On 17 July 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukrainian territory. All 298 innocent people on board including 80 children died as a result. The victims came from 17 different countries. They were taken from us for no reason, without warning. The pain of their passing is still felt intensely today by their families and friends all over the world.
In 2025 two international bodies, the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO Council) and the European Court of Human Rights found the Russian Federation responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 and the deaths of 298 people. These findings are major steps towards truth, justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17 and their loved ones. The Russian Federation has filed an appeal against the decision by the ICAO Council at the International Court of Justice.
The Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands remain committed to achieving truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17 and their families, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2166. Those who have been left behind deserve closure. They need to know that everything that can be done has been done to prevent these tragedies from happening in the future.
We call for full cooperation to deliver truth, justice and accountability for the victims and their next of kin.