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MH17 Ukraine disaster: Dutch to report on cause MH17 Ukraine disaster: Dutch to report on cause
(35 minutes later)
The Dutch Safety Board is to publish a final report on why Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 broke up over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board.The Dutch Safety Board is to publish a final report on why Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 broke up over Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board.
Preliminary findings say it was hit by "high-energy objects from outside the aircraft", fuelling speculation that a surface-to-air missile was responsible.Preliminary findings say it was hit by "high-energy objects from outside the aircraft", fuelling speculation that a surface-to-air missile was responsible.
The West and Ukraine say Russian-backed rebels brought down the Boeing 777. But Russia claims the missile was fired from Ukrainian-controlled territory.The West and Ukraine say Russian-backed rebels brought down the Boeing 777. But Russia claims the missile was fired from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
The report will not apportion blame.The report will not apportion blame.
The plane - flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur - crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 at the height of the conflict between government troops and the pro-Russian separatists.The plane - flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur - crashed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 at the height of the conflict between government troops and the pro-Russian separatists.
The victims included 196 Dutch nationals and 10 Britons. Among the victims were 196 Dutch nationals and 10 Britons.
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Four questionsFour questions
The Dutch Safety Board is expected to present its findings first to the victims' families and relatives and then to reporters at the Gilze-Rijen military base in the Netherlands. The Dutch Safety Board is expected to present its findings first to the victims' relatives and then to reporters at the Gilze-Rijen military base in the Netherlands.
The board will also show parts of the aircraft that have been brought back from the rebel-held Donetsk region and reconstructed.The board will also show parts of the aircraft that have been brought back from the rebel-held Donetsk region and reconstructed.
Read moreRead more
Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash - In-depth reportMalaysia Airlines MH17 crash - In-depth report
What we know - What happened on on 17 July 2014What we know - What happened on on 17 July 2014
A reporter's story - Searching for truth at the crash siteA reporter's story - Searching for truth at the crash site
Remembering the victims - Shared sadness and sunflowersRemembering the victims - Shared sadness and sunflowers
The report will look at four key issues:The report will look at four key issues:
However, the report will not directly address the issue of who was responsible for the disaster. However, the board does not have the authority to apportion blame, under the rules governing international flight crash investigations.
This is because the board does not have the authority to apportion blame, under the rules governing international flight crash investigations. A separate Dutch-led criminal investigation is expected to publish its findings in several months' time.
A separate Dutch-led criminal investigation is still going on. Its findings are expected to be published in several months' time.
Did they suffer? Anna Holligan, BBC News, The HagueDid they suffer? Anna Holligan, BBC News, The Hague
The Dutch Safety Board might not provide a conclusive answer as to whether the crew and passengers were conscious in those final moments.The Dutch Safety Board might not provide a conclusive answer as to whether the crew and passengers were conscious in those final moments.
But the families hope this technical aviation report will at least end the speculation about what caused their deaths.But the families hope this technical aviation report will at least end the speculation about what caused their deaths.
"Now, finally, we're getting answers from an organisation that can verify what actually happened," says Evert Van Zijtveld - deputy chairman of the MH17 Air Disaster Association, who lost his son, daughter and parents-in-law on flight MH17."Now, finally, we're getting answers from an organisation that can verify what actually happened," says Evert Van Zijtveld - deputy chairman of the MH17 Air Disaster Association, who lost his son, daughter and parents-in-law on flight MH17.
"But we still need proof. If they say our families felt something, we want evidence.""But we still need proof. If they say our families felt something, we want evidence."
Read more: Relatives seek truth of final momentsRead more: Relatives seek truth of final moments
Prosecutors have suggested that the aircraft was most likely brought down by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile - which experts say both Russian and Ukrainian armies possess.Prosecutors have suggested that the aircraft was most likely brought down by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile - which experts say both Russian and Ukrainian armies possess.
The government in Ukraine and several Western officials have said the missile was brought from Russia and launched from the rebel-held part of Ukraine.The government in Ukraine and several Western officials have said the missile was brought from Russia and launched from the rebel-held part of Ukraine.
Russia denies the accusations, saying the plane was shot down by either a surface-to-air missile fired by Ukrainian forces or a Ukrainian fighter jet. On Tuesday, Russian officials from Almaz-Antey - the state firm which manufactures Buk missiles - once again rejected those accusations.
The Ukrainian government in Kiev rejects these claims as groundless.
Report 'wrong'Report 'wrong'
On Tuesday, the Russian state arms producer Almaz-Antey, which makes Buk missiles, held a presentation timed to pre-empt the Dutch report. During a presentation timed to pre-empt the Dutch report, officials said the evidence suggested the plane was shot down by a surface-to-air Buk missile fired by Ukrainian forces.
Firm officials said their own investigation findings contradicted those of the Dutch Safety Board, without revealing how they were familiar with those findings. Using video footage of their own mock-up of shrapnel hitting the fuselage of an aircraft, the officials said trajectory evidence suggested the missile had been fired from Ukrainian-controlled territory. They argued the weaponry used had not been in the Russian arsenal for years.
Using video footage of their own mock-up of shrapnel hitting the fuselage of an aircraft ,the officials said trajectory evidence showed the missile was fired from Ukrainian-controlled territory. They argued the missile used had not been in the Russian arsenal for years. Russia says Dutch investigators have not taken account of its findings.
In July, Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council to set up an international tribunal into the MH17 air disaster.In July, Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council to set up an international tribunal into the MH17 air disaster.
President Vladimir Putin said at the time the establishment of such a tribunal would be "premature" and "counter-productive".President Vladimir Putin said at the time the establishment of such a tribunal would be "premature" and "counter-productive".
Senior Russian government officials have said the Dutch investigators have not been co-operating with Russian experts.
"A series of facts [about the shooting down] that were presented by Russia seem have not been taken into consideration - for reasons that we do not understand," Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Putin, said on Monday.
Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your experiences.Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your experiences.
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