Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko blamed Russia for shooting Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 down as relatives and officials gathered on the one year anniversary.
“MH17, where 298 victims were killed for no reason, was shot down by a Russian BUK missile, launched by a Russian professional crew under an order and an instruction from the Russian military,” he stated.
On July 17, 2014, the plane crashed to the ground over occupied east Ukraine, only a few months into a war between Russia and Ukraine. Both sides immediately pointed fingers.
“It would not have happened without participation, without a direct order from the highest political and military leadership of the neighboring state,” he continued.
Poroshenko did not put forth any evidence that led to the conclusion, but intelligence from America and Germany say the pro-Russians in east Ukraine shot down the plane with a Buk surface-to-air-missile. In June, Australia, Malaysia, Ukraine, The Netherlands, and Belgium—the countries in charge of the investigation—called for a United Nations tribunal to prosecute those who shot down the plane.
“A UN tribunal is the best option,” said one Dutch senior official. “We expect that it will provide the greatest chance of cooperation from all countries involved.”
Russia lashed out at the suggestion, but on Friday, Poroshenko and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to push the others in the investigation “to coordinate their further steps to advance a draft resolution” of a tribunal.
The crash killed 193 Dutch, 43 Malaysians, and 27 Australians.