The United Nations Aviation Commission ruled that Russia was responsible for the landing of a Malaysian passenger plane in Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew members, prompting calls for "compensation" for the victims' families.

Flight MH17 traveled from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by Russian ground-facing air missiles while flying across eastern Ukraine in 2014 as battles rage between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Among the victims were 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents.

The Australian and Dutch governments said the ICAO Council will consider the form of compensation in the coming weeks.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government welcomed the decision and urged the National Administrative Region to act quickly to determine remedies.

"We call on Russia to finally face responsibility for such horrible acts of violence and to compensate for serious acts required by international law," Wong said in a statement.

The Dutch foreign minister said the Netherlands and Australia hoped that the ICAO committee would order Russia to negotiate on compensation.

"This decision is an important step in establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of flight MH17 and its family and loved ones," Caspar Veldkamp said in a statement.

“This decision also conveys a clear message to the international community: States cannot violate international law without guilt.”

"The Russian Federation failed to provide its obligations under international aviation law during the landing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014," the Democratic Party of International Rights said in a statement on Monday night.

The CCAO said it was the first time in its history that its Council decided on the merits of disputes among member states.

The agency, based in Montreal, sets global aviation standards adopted by its 193 member states, but lacks regulatory powers.

Australia and the Netherlands have been seeking compensation and apology, regardless of Russia, despite international investigation findings, but unilaterally withdrew negotiations with the two countries in October 2020. The ICAO-related ICAO cases were initiated by Australia and the Netherlands in 2022.

In November 2022, a Dutch judge found two Russian men and one Ukrainian man guilty of murder in absence for his role in the attack. Moscow called the ruling a "scandal" and said it would not extradite its citizens.

In 2023, an international team of investigators from the Netherlands, Australia, Malaysia, Belgium and Ukraine said there were “strong signs” that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally signed the signed decision to provide missiles to land MH17.

With Reuters