On 17 July, we commemorate the eleventh anniversary of 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 welcomes 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 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.
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 11th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, commemorated on 17 July 2025.
