Ukraine’s global community commemorates 11th anniversary of MH17 downing, demands justice

Today, July 17, marks the 11th anniversary of the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a commercial passenger plane that was enroute from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

A sophisticated Russian Buk air-defense system struck it over Ukrainian skies over eastern Ukraine during a covert invasion of the easternmost regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in 2014 by Russian paramilitary units. 

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the global Ukrainian community express their deepest solidarity with the families and friends of the victims.

Earlier this month, on July 9, the European Court of Human Rights held Russia responsible for the airliner. 

However, on behalf of Ukrainians worldwide, the UWC does not consider this case closed until the Russian state and its leadership are fully held accountable.

“As part of our tribute, we wrote the name of every victim in front of the Russian Embassy in Wellington — a symbolic act of remembrance and a reminder to the world of the truth. We read each name aloud and sang prayer songs in their memory,” the organizers said.

We demand that Russia, along with its military and political leaders and their entourages, be brought to justice — not only for MH17 but for all war crimes committed by Russia 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!” said Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress.

Ukrainian communities are holding memorial events in tribute. The first commemorations took place in Wellington, New Zealand.

Ukrainians across Australia are uniting this week to honor the 11th anniversary of the tragic and criminal downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 by Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories — a brutal act of state-sponsored violence.

Events will be held on July 17 in major Australian cities including Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra, along with planned memorial prayer services, the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) announced.

“The downing of MH17 was not a tragic accident — it was a deliberate act of state-sponsored violence. As the European Court of Human Rights ruled this month, russia is responsible for the attack and continues to commit “widespread and flagrant” human rights violations in Ukraine during its full-scale invasion,” the AFUO said.

Russia shot down the civilian Malaysia Airlines plane flying Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014. The tragedy claimed the lives of 298 innocent civilians, including 80 children. A Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system shot down the aircraft over Ukraine’s Donbas region, which was then engulfed in war and controlled by Russian proxies disguised as local separatists.