Exclusive | MH17 10 years on: Russia’s lies ‘murdered’ victims twice, Ukraine foreign minister says

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Russia is abusing the MH17 grief through its ‘blatant, systemic, and shameless lies’

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Reconstructed MH17 wreckage. Photo: Amy Chew

Published: 5:03pm, 17 Jul 2024Updated: 5:52pm, 17 Jul 2024

Inside the military air base of Gilze-Rijen, a municipality in the southern Netherlands, the sliding doors to a hangar open to reveal the reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines MH17 and remind the world of the killings of all 298 passengers and crew on board 10 years ago after the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

At the MH17 National Monument at Vijfhuizen Park near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, a tree has been planted for every victim of the doomed flight.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told This Week in Asia on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy that the grief of the MH17 next-of-kin was “still abused” by Russia through its “blatant, systemic, and shameless lies” and “its inhumane refusal” to acknowledge the truth, assume responsibility, and say “sorry” to the victims and their families.

“I regret to say this but Russia has murdered the innocent MH17 victims twice. First, with their missile. Second, with their lies,” Kuleba said in a written interview.

The reconstructed site was opened for a small group of journalists, including This Week In Asia, on the eve of the MH17 anniversary.

The 298 victims were from 17 different countries, with Dutch nationals making up the majority at 198 killed. There were also 43 Malaysians, 38 Australians and 10 Britons on board.