European Court Rules Russia Shot Down MH17, Killing 298

Europe’s Top Human Rights Court Holds Russia Responsible for Downing MH17, War Crimes in Ukraine

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Wednesday that Russia was directly responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which killed 283 passengers and 15 crew members in July 2014. The aircraft was struck by a Russian-made Buk missile launched from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.

Announcing the verdict in Strasbourg, ECHR President Mattias Guyomar said that the missile was intentionally fired at the plane, “most likely under the mistaken belief that it was a military aircraft.” The court also concluded that Russia’s refusal to accept responsibility and its failure to investigate the incident violated international law and deepened the suffering of the victims' families.

This ruling aligns with a May 2024 decision by the UN’s aviation agency, which also held Russia responsible for the MH17 tragedy.

Russia Found Guilty in Additional Atrocity Cases

In three other cases filed by Ukraine and the Netherlands, the court also found Russia guilty of numerous human rights violations stemming from its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and earlier actions in occupied territories.

Key findings include:

Murder, torture, rape, and forced deportations

Destruction of civilian infrastructure

Kidnapping of Ukrainian children

Use of sexual violence as a weapon of war

“These actions went beyond military objectives,” said Guyomar, adding that rape was used systematically to break the morale of the Ukrainian population and amounted to acts of torture.

Court Denounces Russia's Non-Cooperation

The ECHR also noted that Russia’s refusal to participate in the legal proceedings violated the European Convention on Human Rights. Despite being expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022 following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia can still be held accountable for actions committed before its expulsion.

The court has deferred a decision on financial compensation. However, given Moscow’s dismissal of the ruling, enforcement remains uncertain.

Reactions

Russia dismissed the verdict. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “We won’t abide by it. We consider it void.”

In contrast, Ukraine welcomed the ruling, calling it a “historic and unprecedented” moment of justice, and an “undeniable victory” that affirms the international community’s recognition of Russia’s war crimes and aggression.

The 501-page judgment is among the most comprehensive legal rebukes of Russian conduct since the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war in Ukraine.