The release below was issued by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on July 17.
On the fourth anniversary of the downing of Flight MH17, the Ukrainian Canadian community joins the families and friends of the victims in grief and solemn remembrance. We call upon the international community to ensure that Russian officials responsible for this appalling act of international terrorism are brought to justice.
On July 17, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down over Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine by a Russian Buk missile. All 298 people on board were killed, including Canadian Andrei Anghel. May the memory of the victims be eternal. Вічная пам’ять.
On May 24, 2018, the International Joint Investigation Team (JIT – Australia, Belgium, Ukraine, Malaysia, the Netherlands) concluded that Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade shot down flight MH17. The JIT stated that it is “convinced that the Buk-TELAR that was used to down MH17, originates from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Kursk in the Russian Federation.”
“Ultimate responsibility for this heinous crime lies with the leadership of the Russian Federation,” stated Paul Grod, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. “The international community must respond strongly to the threat to international peace posed by the Russian regime.”
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls on Canada and the international community to designate the Russian Federation a state sponsor of terrorism and designate the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk “peoples’ republics” as terrorist organizations.
Requiem and memorial services for the victims of MH17 will be held across Canada on Sunday, July 22. Please contact your local UCC branches and Ukrainian churches for more information.