MH17 shot down by missile 'brought from Russia' into Ukraine's rebel territory

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was definitely shot down from the ground - by a Buk missile moved into Ukraine from Russia, an international investigation has concluded.

Head of the Dutch police investigation, Wilbert Pualissen said: "Based on the criminal investigation, we have concluded that flight MH17 was downed by a Buk missile of the series 9M83, that came from the territory of the Russian Federation."

He added that after the plane had been hit, the missile launcher "was taken back to Russia".

Investigators said the missile was fired from the village of Pervomaysk.

"Our investigation has shown that the location from where the BUK was fired was in the hands of the Russian separatists," Mr Paulissen said.

The report, from a team of international prosecutors, said it was unclear whether soldiers had been ordered to fire the missile, or had acted independently.

The Russian foreign ministry described the investigation as "biased and politically motivated", adding that its findings were "dreamt up".

It also claimed that Moscow had been prevented from playing a full part in the probe, alleging that investigators had allowed Ukraine to "fabricate evidence" and turn the case to "its advantage".

The investigating team said it had found 100 persons of interest, but individual suspects had not been formally identified.

However, an investigator said there was a "realistic chance" the culprits would be prosecuted.

Russia disagreed with the findings. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "First-hand radar data identified all flying objects which could have been launched or were in the air over the territory controlled by rebels at that moment.

"The data are clear-cut ... there is no rocket. If there was a rocket, it could only have been fired from elsewhere."

The investigation team said it had not gained access to new Russian radar images.

The maker of the Buk missile said the investigation's findings were not backed by technical evidence.

The maker of the Buk missile said the investigation's findings were not backed by technical evidence.

Moscow has suggested the plane was brought down by the Ukrainian military.

But in a statement, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said the investigation suggested Russia had "direct involvement" in the incident.

"This puts an end to all of Russia's attempts to discredit activities of the Joint Investigation Team and conclusions by spreading distorted or fabricated information," it said.

The investigation team was drawn from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine.

Two hundred witnesses were interviewed, and half a million videos and photographs viewed.

Some 150,000 intercepted phone calls were listened to.

Last year, another investigation by the Dutch Safety Board also found the plane was hit by a Buk surface to air missile.

The board did not touch on which side was likely to be responsible for launching the missile but many, including Ukrainian officials and the West, blame Russian fighters and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

In May last year, families of 33 of the victims from Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand launched legal action against the Russian Federation and Mr Putin.

The incident also played a major part in the imposition of European Union and US sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

The Boeing 777 was hit during a flight between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur on 17 July 2014, killing all 298 people on board, most of them Dutch citizens.

The aircraft fell apart in mid air, spreading wreckage over several miles of Ukraine.