It has been 10 years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by pro-Russian separatists over war-torn eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. The plane exploded in mid-air while flying over eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, where pro-Russian separatist rebels were battling Ukraine forces. The international probe in 2016 found that the plane was downed by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile system. In 2019, four individuals were charged with murder, including three from east Ukraine's self-styled rebel Donetsk People's Republic and one from Ukraine. In November 2022, a Dutch court convicted three of them in absentia and sentenced them to life in prison. Russia denied any involvement and dismissed the court verdict as politically motivated. The MH17 crash investigators suspended their work in 2023 due to insufficient evidence to prosecute more suspects. The Netherlands and Ukraine have taken a case against Russia to the European Court of Human Rights. An investigation against Russia is ongoing at the International Civil Aviation Organization. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed disappointment that none of those responsible have been brought to justice.
Relatives of the victims gathered to mourn on the 10th anniversary of the MH17 downing. A memorial event was held at a park near Schiphol airport, where the names of all the victims were read. The victims came from at least 10 countries, with 196 of them Dutch, 43 Malaysian, and 38 Australian. The event aimed to commemorate the lives lost and provide solace to the grieving families. However, hopes for justice have faded as Russia has refused to extradite the three men convicted by the Dutch court, and international investigators have suspended their work due to a lack of evidence. The war launched by Russia against Ukraine has further complicated the situation, making it difficult to believe that any of the suspects will be arrested soon. The European Union has called upon Moscow to accept responsibility and fully cooperate in serving justice, but Russia has denied any involvement and refused to extradite any suspects. The families of the victims continue to face financial strain and receive little outside assistance. They hope for justice and feel that the world has forgotten about them. The pain of losing loved ones in the MH17 tragedy never fully subsides, but life renews itself.
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