Ukraine says MH17 probe proves Russia's 'direct involvement'

September 29, 2016 | 10:53

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KIEV: Kiev said Wednesday (Sep 28) that a Dutch inquiry into the downing of Flight MH17 over rebel-held eastern Ukraine proved Russia's "direct involvement" in the death of the 298 people on board.

A piece of the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in a field near the village of Grabove, in the region of Donetsk, Ukraine, on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/Bulent Kilic)

"This information once again points to the direct involvement of the state-aggressor in downing the aircraft," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine labels Russia an "aggressor" that planned and backed a 29-month pro-Kremlin separatist war that has claimed more than 9,600 lives - accusations Moscow bluntly denies.

"This puts an end to all of Russia's attempts to discredit the activities and conclusions of the Joint Investigation Team by spreading distorted or fabricated information," the Ukrainian ministry said.

A criminal inquiry in the Netherlands found Wednesday that the missile that shot the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 out of the sky was snuck out of and back into Russia.

The investigators also confirmed that the missile that slammed into the plane was fired from a field in a part of eastern Ukraine under the control of the separatists at the time.

But the Dutch-led investigation did not directly accuse Moscow of supplying the BUK missile and its transporter system - and the Russian government has repeatedly denied any involvement.

The passenger jet was shot down in July 2014 on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The incident came at the most heated point in the war, straining tensions between the West and Moscow even further.

AFP

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