Account

A Buk surface-to-air missile, traced to Russia's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, downed the Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur passenger flight over separatist-held territory, killing all 298 people aboard, including 196 Dutch nationals. The Joint Investigation Team established the launcher came from Russia; a Dutch court sentenced three men to life in absentia in 2022, and in 2025 the ICAO Council found Russia responsible under international air law.

Sources

• Kyiv Independent — The downing of MH17, and Russia's responsibility
• UN News — UN aviation council finds Russia responsible for downing of MH17
• European Court of Human Rights — Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia (MH17-related admissibility decision)