Today marks 10 years since Russia shot down the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing 298 innocent civilians, including 80 children. On July 17, 2014, the Russian-controlled BUK missile system downed the passenger airliner over the Ukrainian territory of Donbas, which had been already war-torn at that time and controlled by Russian proxy forces disguised as local separatists.
Ten years ago, Ukraine, Europe, and the world were deeply shocked by Russian brutality, barbarism, and ease in killing innocent civilians. Unfortunately, the downing of MH17 turned out to be Russia’s first massive war crime committed on Ukrainian soil since the start of its military aggression against Ukraine in February 2014. Today, after the massacres of Bucha and Izium, massive Russian missile and kamikaze drone attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities and bombing of civilian infrastructure such as Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital Okhmatdyt, the Kremlin’s cruelty and barbarism no longer surprises anyone.
We will never forget or forgive these terrible crimes against humanity. The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the global Ukrainian community stand together with the families and friends of the victims of the MH17 disaster in memory and solidarity. We also demand that Russia, its military and political leadership, and its enablers be brought to justice for all the crimes committed in Ukraine.
“We pay tribute to the innocent victims of MH17 who died because of dictator Putin’s imperial ambitions. The top Russian political and military commanders must face criminal responsibility, and the Russian Federation must be held accountable to pay reparations to the victims’ families. May the memory of the victims be eternal!” stated Paul Grod, UWC President.
Cover: OSCE/Evgeniy Maloletka
