Russian missile downed MH17 flight

The missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago came from a Russia-based military unit, international investigators have found.

A Russia-based military unit shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, an investigation has concluded.

A Russia-based military unit shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, an investigation has concluded. Source: AAP

Australia and other countries are considering the next steps towards prosecution after international investigators found a missile from a Russia-based military unit brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 nearly four years ago.

Dutch National Police said on Thursday that the missile was from the Russian military's 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in the Russian city of Kursk.

Earlier findings said the missile launch site was an agricultural field controlled by pro-Russian fighters.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine were now "considering options".

The countries were united to pursue justice for those who lost their lives as well as their loved ones, she said.

"That a sophisticated weapon belonging to the Russian Army was dispatched and used to shoot down a civilian aircraft should be of grave international concern," Ms Bishop said.

The passenger jet was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when it was blown out of the sky over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 38 Australians.

Russia has always denied involvement in the downing of the jet.

This year's federal budget allocated $50.3 million over four years to support the Dutch national prosecution of those responsible for the attack.

The money will meet Australia's share of the prosecution costs and help family members of the victims to participate in the court proceedings.


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Source: AAP


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