MH17 shot down by Russian Buk missile - investigators
- 8 years ago
International prosecutors say the Malaysian airliner shot down in eastern Ukraine just over two years ago was hit by a Russian-made Buk missile launched from a village held by pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukrainian government forces.
The prosecutors – from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine – say the surface-to-air Buk missile system used to shoot down MH17 was fired from the village of Pervomaysk and was later returned to Russia.
Investigators say it is not clear whether an order had been given for fighters to launch the missile or whether they had acted independently.
JIT: Flight MH17 was shot down by a BUK missile from a farmland near Pervomaiskyi https://t.co/pPBoGwfSSL— JIT MH17 (@JITMH17) September 28, 2016
Read a summary of the report here
What happened to MH17?
The Boeing 777 broke apart in mid-air, scattering wreckage over several kilometres of fields in rebel-held territory.
At the time of the incident on July 17, 2014, pro-Russian separatists were fighting Ukrainian government forces in the region.
All 298 people on board, most of them Dutch nationals, were killed.
Why are the findings significant?
They challenge Moscow’s suggestion that Malaysia Airlines flight 17 (MH17), en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in July 2014, was brought down by the Ukrainian military.
LIVE #JIT plays conversation between alleged Russian fighters discussing successful BUK delivery 07/16/2014 https://t.co/yIDJg8cnLJ #MH17 pic.twitter.com/AKDkoEXQhl— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 28, 2016
Will anyone be held to account?
The prosecutors cannot file charges.
There is no international agreement on what court such a case would be heard in.
However, the victims’ relatives have been seeking details of who shot the plane down in the hope that it might lead eventually to prosecutions over the tragedy.
Investigators say they have identified 100 people whom they describe as being “of interest” to them, but have not yet been formally identified as individual suspects.
Is this the first investigation?
No.
A civilian investigation by the Dutch Safety Board last year concluded that MH17 was hit by a Buk missile fired from eastern Ukraine.
Moscow denied that pro-Russian rebels were responsible.
What has Russia said?
Repeating earlier denials, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “First-hand radar data identified all flying objects which could have been launched or were in the air over the territory controlled by rebels at that moment.”
“The data are clear-cut..there is no rocket. If there was a rocket, it could only have been fired from elsewhere.”
Investigators say they have not had access to the new radar images on which Moscow is basing its latest statements.
What have the victims’ families said?
They were informed of the inquiry’s findings shortly before the prosecutors’ news conference on Wed
The prosecutors – from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine – say the surface-to-air Buk missile system used to shoot down MH17 was fired from the village of Pervomaysk and was later returned to Russia.
Investigators say it is not clear whether an order had been given for fighters to launch the missile or whether they had acted independently.
JIT: Flight MH17 was shot down by a BUK missile from a farmland near Pervomaiskyi https://t.co/pPBoGwfSSL— JIT MH17 (@JITMH17) September 28, 2016
Read a summary of the report here
What happened to MH17?
The Boeing 777 broke apart in mid-air, scattering wreckage over several kilometres of fields in rebel-held territory.
At the time of the incident on July 17, 2014, pro-Russian separatists were fighting Ukrainian government forces in the region.
All 298 people on board, most of them Dutch nationals, were killed.
Why are the findings significant?
They challenge Moscow’s suggestion that Malaysia Airlines flight 17 (MH17), en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in July 2014, was brought down by the Ukrainian military.
LIVE #JIT plays conversation between alleged Russian fighters discussing successful BUK delivery 07/16/2014 https://t.co/yIDJg8cnLJ #MH17 pic.twitter.com/AKDkoEXQhl— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) September 28, 2016
Will anyone be held to account?
The prosecutors cannot file charges.
There is no international agreement on what court such a case would be heard in.
However, the victims’ relatives have been seeking details of who shot the plane down in the hope that it might lead eventually to prosecutions over the tragedy.
Investigators say they have identified 100 people whom they describe as being “of interest” to them, but have not yet been formally identified as individual suspects.
Is this the first investigation?
No.
A civilian investigation by the Dutch Safety Board last year concluded that MH17 was hit by a Buk missile fired from eastern Ukraine.
Moscow denied that pro-Russian rebels were responsible.
What has Russia said?
Repeating earlier denials, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “First-hand radar data identified all flying objects which could have been launched or were in the air over the territory controlled by rebels at that moment.”
“The data are clear-cut..there is no rocket. If there was a rocket, it could only have been fired from elsewhere.”
Investigators say they have not had access to the new radar images on which Moscow is basing its latest statements.
What have the victims’ families said?
They were informed of the inquiry’s findings shortly before the prosecutors’ news conference on Wed