Flight MH17, traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard, mostly Dutch nationals. The court concluded that the Boeing 777 was mistakenly targeted with a Russian-supplied missile by either Russian military forces or Moscow-backed separatists—both under Russian control.

“Russia had failed to ensure accurate verification of the missile’s target or safeguard civilian lives,” the court stated, calling Moscow’s actions “cavalier” and dismissing Russian claims as fabrications.

Child Transfers And Mass Abuses Documented

The court also found “overwhelming evidence” that Russia had forcibly transferred thousands of Ukrainian children to its territory since the 2022 invasion, often for adoption without parental consent. It cited the case of Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, who adopted a Ukrainian child from Mariupol.

At least 19,000 children are believed to have been taken, according to Yale researchers. The court ordered Russia to identify, locate, and return abducted Ukrainian children and cooperate with international reunification efforts.

Additional findings included evidence of torture, rape, summary executions, and attacks on journalists and religious groups dating back to 2014.

Ruling Branded “Null And Void” By Russia

The Kremlin dismissed the decision as “null and void,” stating it had no obligation to comply. Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022, but the ruling remains legally binding.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp called the verdict “an important step on the road to justice.” Ukrainian Justice Minister Olga Stefanishyna described it as “historic,” stating it affirmed Russia’s intent to destroy Ukraine’s statehood.