Ukrainian community in Canada on Russian trace in the MH17 crash

On July 17, 2018, the fourth anniversary of the MH17 downing, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, on their official website, urged Canada and a broader international community to obtain justice and convict Russian officials responsible for the tragedy.

298 crew and passengers on board were killed when the Malaysian Boeing flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over Donbass region controlled by pro-Russian separatists fighting for their independence from Ukraine. On May 24, 2018, the International Joint Investigation Team, made of the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine, confirmed that the aircraft was bagged by a BUK missile system and managed to trace it to the 53rd anti-aircraft missile brigade based in Kursk.

“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 Ukrainian community offered to respond strongly to the existing Russian threat, designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and pro-Russian Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples’ Republics as terrorist organizations.

On July 23, local branches of the Ukrainian Congress and Ukrainian churches across Canada will hold a commemoration for the MH17 victims.