MH17 investigation: Missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines flight fired from separatist-held territory, Dutch investigators say
abcnet.au
Updated
Dutch authorities leading the investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 are convinced combatants based in the pro-Moscow separatist enclave of Donetsk were operating the missile system that killed all 298 people on board last year.
The Chief Public Prosecutor of the Netherlands, Fred Westerbecke, told 7.30 evidence gathered included satellite imagery, intercepted phone calls and mobile phone footage.
"The most likely scenario is that a BUK missile fired from [separatist-held] eastern Ukraine downed MH17," he said.
United States and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said there was little doubt the missile system used in the attack was driven to Ukraine from Russia, and then driven back after MH17 crashed into a field outside the town of Grabovo.
"It's pretty clear that this is a system that was transferred from Russia," secretary of state John Kerry told US media.
"There is an enormous amount of evidence."
The Kremlin denied responsibility for the tragedy and Russian president Vladimir Putin remains opposed to the establishment of an international tribunal to handle the case.
"Given the targeted anti-Russian campaign, launched in view of the crisis in Ukraine and the catastrophe of MH17, one cannot even hope for the proposed tribunal to be impartial," the Russian embassy said in a written statement to 7.30.
"The draft statute of the tribunal reveals that the objective of its formation is not to establish the real circumstances of the tragedy, but to corroborate a version of events which suits some states."
Missile system responsible from Russia
Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in Australia, Mykola Dzhydzhora, said he believed the missile system used — a medium-range, surface-to-air BUK launcher — came from Russia.
"This BUK system and its trucks entered from Russian territory to rebel-controlled territory, hit the aeroplane and returned to Russia," Mr Dzhydzhora told 7.30.
He said his country was facing an existential threat from Russian invasion, and that the loss of MH17 was keenly felt by Ukrainians.
"We feel like we lost Ukrainians [on MH17]," he said.
"All responsible people should be brought to court to hold full responsibility for this situation."
More than 8,000 people have been killed in the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been fighting to reclaim its eastern provinces since the southern region of Crimea was annexed by Russia last year.
The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team, which includes members of the Australian Federal Police, is due to release its final report in October.
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