The United Nations’ aviation council has ruled that Russia was responsible for the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine, which killed all 298 passengers and crew aboard. The decision has prompted calls for reparations to the victims’ families.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council stated Monday that Russia failed to uphold its obligations under international air law in the incident. The ruling marks the first time the ICAO has formally adjudicated a dispute between member states.
Flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was struck by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile while flying over eastern Ukraine, where fighting raged between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces. Among the victims were 196 Dutch citizens, 38 Australian citizens or residents, and 30 Malaysians.
Australia and the Netherlands, which jointly brought the case before ICAO in 2022, welcomed the decision and urged Russia to comply with international law.
“We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct,” said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp called the ruling “an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice.” He added that it sends a “clear message to the international community: states cannot violate international law with impunity.”
Despite extensive evidence from international investigations, Russia has denied involvement and unilaterally withdrew from negotiations with Australia and the Netherlands in 2020.
In November 2022, a Dutch court convicted two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia for their roles in the attack. Moscow dismissed the verdict as “scandalous” and refused to extradite its citizens.
A 2023 investigation by a joint team from the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium, and Ukraine found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of the missile used to shoot down MH17.
The ICAO, headquartered in Montreal, sets global aviation standards but lacks enforcement power. The council will now consider appropriate reparations in the coming weeks.