Russia Found Responsible for MH17 Downing

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) revealed on Monday that Russia is to blame for the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 back in 2014.

Investigations indicated that a civilian airplane flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile over Ukraine.

This tragic event involved 196 Dutch nationals, alongside citizens from Australia, the UK, Belgium, and Malaysia.

Following the crash, Russian separatists accused the Ukrainian military, while President Vladimir Putin stressed that Ukraine should be held “liable.”

Australia and the Netherlands initiated a lawsuit in 2022 aiming for accountability.

The ICAO Council stated that the claims put forth by the Netherlands and Australia were substantiated by international law, specifically citing violations outlined in the Chicago Convention regarding attacks on civil aircraft.

This ruling marks the ICAO’s first significant decision since its establishment in 1944.

An official statement noted, “This ruling is a vital step toward uncovering the truth for the families of all MH17 victims and securing justice.”

Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, called on Russia to accept responsibility for this tragic incident and to provide compensation as required by international law.

In response, Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the findings, claiming that Russia was not involved in the investigation and thus rejects the conclusions as biased.

This controversy arises amid ongoing discussions regarding a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.