The missile that downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine two years ago came from Russia, a team of Dutch-led investigators and prosecutors said Wednesday.
All 298 — including 196 Dutch citizens — passengers on board were killed when a powerful surface-to-air missile struck the flight on July 17, 2014.
The Buk launcher was brought in from Russia at the request of Russian-backed separatists fighting Ukraine government forces in the area and returned to Russia across the border that same night.
MH17 was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The Russian government had already been implicated in the downing of the Boeing 777, and this report only confirms it.
“It may be concluded MH17 was shot down by a 9M38 missile launched by a Buk, brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation, and that after launch was subsequently returned to the Russian Federation,” said Wilbert Paulissen, head of the Central Crime Investigation department of the Dutch National Police.
Last year, a civilian investigation conducted by the Dutch Safety Board concluded MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile, but it was not required to assign blame or responsibility for its launch.
The cover up of Russia’s role in the flight’s demise is still ongoing. Russia’s defense ministry released radar data in its defense, saying it showed the plane was shot down by Ukrainian forces.
