US EditionEurope’s human rights court finds Russia committed violations in Ukraine and was behind Flight MH17
UKRAINE, JUL 9 – The European Court of Human Rights ruled Russia violated international law in Ukraine and held it responsible for the 2014 MH17 downing that killed 298 people, including 196 Dutch nationals.
- On July 9, 2025, Europe’s top human rights court ruled that Russia committed violations in Ukraine and was responsible for downing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014.
- The ruling concluded that Flight MH17, a Boeing 777, was downed by a Buk missile of Russian origin launched from separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of all 298 people on board, with evidence tying the separatists to Russian backing.
- The court is considering four cases involving allegations of human rights violations since 2014, filed against Russia in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, including issues related to the war, the MH17 crash, and the abduction of Ukrainian children.
- Thomas Schansman, whose son Quinn died at the age of 18 in the incident, described the ruling as an important development in identifying those truly accountable and emphasized that MH17 remains an unresolved matter for Russia.
- The court’s ruling represents a significant achievement in an 11-year pursuit of justice, though its impact is mostly symbolic since Russia was removed from the Council of Europe in 2022 and continues to ignore international rulings.
233 Articles
233 Articles
Unpacking the ECHR Decision on Russia’s Violations in Ukraine
Today, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered its highly anticipated judgement in the case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia–a watershed moment in international human rights law. In this episode, Just Security Executive Editor and professor at American University Washington College of Law Rebecca Hamilton, and Just Security editorial board member and professor of International Law at the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy To…
Sydney Morning Herald
The AgeHow Russia was responsible: Landmark court ruling on downing of MH17
The European Court of Human Rights held unanimously that Russia and its agents engaged in “manifestly unlawful” conduct in a missile attack that killed 298 passengers and crew.
Top European court delivers series of damning rulings against Russia
Kidnapping Ukrainian children, torture, murder, rape, and downing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 17 in 2014: the European Court of Human Rights has found Russia guilty of these grave international law violations on Wednesday.
Russia considers “null and void” the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on the crash of Malaysian Boeing flight MH17 and the war in Ukraine.
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