Russia has repeatedly tried to obstruct international investigations into the shooting down of a B-777 aircraft operated by Malaysia Airlines (MH17 flight), which crashed in Ukraine in 2014. This is what the Australian government denounces, reiterating its determination to prosecute Moscow. 

"Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine and its lack of cooperation with the investigation currently make investigative efforts and evidence gathering impossible". Australia will therefore "hold Russia to account for its role in the downing of the civilian plane", said Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

On board the downed aircraft were 298 people, including 196 Dutch nationals and 38 Australians. For this reason, the governments of Australia and the Netherlands have filed a lawsuit against Russia at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the United Nations.

In November 2022, a court in the Netherlands convicted two Russian citizens and one Ukrainian. In recent hours, however, Sydney investigators announced the suspension of investigations in the absence of "definitive proof", stating that there are however "strong indications" of a link between the air massacre and Russian President Vladimir Putin.