Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Dr.Mykola Kulinich mourned the Australian victims of the MH17 downing.
Malaysia Airlines flight #MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was travelling over temporary occupied territory of Ukraine #Donbas on 17 July 2014 when it disappeared from radar. The aircraft turned out to be shot down.
A total of 283 passengers, including 80 children, and 15 crew members were on board:
- 193 from the Netherlands, with one passenger carrying a dual Dutch-U.S. citizenship
- 43 from Malaysia, including all crew members
- 27 from Australia
- 12 from Indonesia
- 10 from the United Kingdom, with one passenger carrying a dual U.K.-South African citizenship
- 4 from Germany
- 4 from Belgium
- 3 from the Philippines
- 1 from Canada
- 1 from New Zealand
In September 2016, an international team of criminal investigators said evidence showed the Buk missile had been brought in from Russian territory and was fired from a field controlled by Russian-backed armed forces.
Moscow has denied any involvement in the crash. A five-country joint investigation team, led by the Netherlands, concluded the plane was shot down by a Buk self-propelled, ground-to-air missile. The weapon was developed by the Soviet Union and used by its successor state, Russia.
Ambassador Kulinich noted that the fact that Netherlands brought MH17 case against Russia before ECHR, provides additional hope for justice to the families of the victims.
From the very beginning, Ukraine cooperated in investigation and took the tragedy of victim's families as personal.
We will continue to do so.
Russia must accept its responsibility and adhere to its international obligations.