Russia responsible for downing of Flight MH17

ECtHR finds Russia responsible

On 9 July 2025 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) unanimously ruled that Russia is responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 and for the deaths of all those on board, including 196 Dutch nationals. It also found that Russia is responsible for adding to the suffering of the victims’ next of kin by continuing to deny any involvement and by obstructing the investigation into the downing of Flight MH17.

ICAO Council finds Russian Federation responsible

On 12 May 2025 the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO Council) decided that the Russian Federation is responsible for the downing of Flight MH17, in violation of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The ICAO Council rendered this decision in a case brought by the Netherlands and Australia in 2022 against the Russian Federation over the downing of Flight MH17 on 17 July 2014.

On 30 June 2025 the ICAO Council issued a decision on reparations and ordered the parties – on one side, the Netherlands and Australia and on the other, the Russian Federation – to immediately enter into good faith negotiations on reparations.

Investigation into the downing of Flight MH17

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) concluded that the Buk installation that was used to down Flight MH17 came from a Russian army unit. This was announced by the JIT in May 2018. The Netherlands and Australia are convinced that Russia is responsible for the use of this weapon system, and that Russia thus violated international law.