EU reiterates its call on Russia to accept responsibility for downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17

On 17 July, the European Union marked the 12th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, shot down by Russian proxies from Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine. The EU honoured the memory of the 298 innocent people including 80 children of 17 nationalities, a majority of them European citizens, who lost their lives. 

“We express our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the victims,” the EU High Representative said in a statement on behalf of the EU. 

The European Union reiterated its full support for all efforts to establish truth, justice and accountability, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2166.

The European Union has welcomed the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) of 9 July 2025, and the decision by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of 12 May 2025, that the Russian Federation is responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 and for the deaths of 298 people on board. The ECtHR also held that the Russian Federation is responsible for the additional suffering that these events have caused the next of kin.

The ECtHR unanimously held that the Russian Federation violated the European Convention on Human Rights. Now that this has been established, the ECtHR can determine the consequences of the violations and the damages payable.

The ICAO Council concluded that the Russian Federation breached the prohibition under international law on the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight. 

“The judgment of the ECtHR and the decision of the ICAO Council are important steps towards truth, justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, their relatives and loved ones,” the statement says.

The European Union also reiterated its call on the Russian Federation to accept its responsibility for this tragedy and to fully cooperate with efforts to serve justice.

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Press release