Ukraine: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
On 17 July, we mark the 12th year since the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. We honour 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 European Union reiterates 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. In its decision rendered on 30 June 2025 the ICAO Council ordered (the Applicants) Australia and the Netherlands, and (the Respondent) the Russian Federation to enter into good faith negotiations on full reparations for the downing of Flight MH17.
Following the decision of the ICAO Council of 30 June 2025, Australia and the Netherlands requested in August 2025 the Russian Federation by two notes verbales that the Russian Federation immediately enter into negotiations with them in good faith to resolve expeditiously the matters of full reparation and other legal consequences arising from the Russian Federation’s breach of its international obligations under the Chicago Convention. The Russian Federation has never responded to this request. Instead, the Russian Federation filed on 18 September 2025 proceedings against Australia and the Netherlands before the International Court of Justice exercising its right of appeal against decisions of the ICAO Council.
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 European Union reiterates its call on the Russian Federation to accept its responsibility for this tragedy and to fully cooperate with efforts to serve justice.
This Statement is issued on the 12th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, commemorated on 17 July 2026.