EU calls on Russia to accept responsibility on 12th anniversary of MH17 downing
On the 12th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Donetsk Oblast, the European Union once again called on Russia to accept responsibility for the tragedy.
Source: a statement issued by the EU high representative on behalf of the EU on 17 July, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The statement noted that the EU welcomes the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) of 9 July 2025 and the decision of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of 12 May 2025, which found Russia responsible for the downing of flight MH17 and the deaths of all 298 people on board.
The ECtHR has also found Russia responsible for the additional suffering caused to the victims' next of kin. It unanimously ruled that Russia violated the European Convention on Human Rights.
Following these findings, the ECtHR can now determine the consequences of the violations and the amount of compensation to be paid.
The ICAO Council concluded that Russia had violated the prohibition under international law on the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight.
In accordance with the ICAO Council's decision of 30 June 2025, Australia and the Netherlands sent two notes verbales to Russia in August 2025, asking it to immediately enter into good-faith negotiations with them to swiftly resolve issues relating to full reparation and other legal consequences arising from Russia's breach of its international obligations under the Chicago Convention. Russia has not responded to the request.
Quote from the statement: "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."
Background: In February 2026, the ECtHR rejected a group of applications against Ukraine lodged by claimants who argued that the Ukrainian authorities were to blame for failing to close the airspace over the combat zone in July 2014.
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