Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has vowed “the killers” who downed Malaysia Airlines MH17 with a Russian missile in 2014 will be brought to justice.



A two-year investigation found close to 100 people were linked to the transport and firing of the missile, and that it had been driven from Russia into an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed rebels.

All 298 people aboard the flight, including 38 Australian citizens or residents, died in the attack.

Turnbull told reporters in Launceston on Thursday that Australia would continue to pursue Russia over the tragedy.

“The perpetrator, the criminals, the killers that did this should be brought to justice.”

Turnbull said he had discussed the matter with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in recent weeks.

“We will be tireless in our efforts to ensure that justice is done,” he said.



The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, told ABC radio that the findings demanded a response from Russia.

“I’m sure the report is well thought out and diligent in its process and therefore there is a response required from Russia,” he said, adding the 298 people aboard had been “murdered”.



Russia has consistently rejected suggestions the missile was fired by its military or rebels it backed and theorised the plane was in fact brought down by the Ukrainian army.

But the interim findings, released on Wednesday, showed the missile was launched from a Buk trailer that was brought from Russia and returned there after launch.

The independent joint investigation team (JIT) was led by Dutch authorities but includes representatives of Australia, Malaysia, Ukraine and Belgium.

Russia immediately dismissed its findings and now faces the prospect of an acrimonious legal standoff with the west.

Julie Bishop, the Australian foreign minister, said in a statement on Wednesday there had been significant progress with the investigation and that Australia was “carefully considering the prosecution options available” in tandem with its partners in the JIT.

She called on the international community to cooperate with the criminal investigation and prosecution.

“While we cannot take away the grief of those who lost their loved ones that day, we can do everything possible to ensure justice is done independently, fairly and transparently.

“We will continue working to ensure that all the facts are known and justice is achieved for affected families, and the preservation of a rules-based order.”

The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, also called for Russia’s full cooperation on Twitter.

It's time for Russia to fully cooperate with international efforts to find justice for those who lost their lives on MH17. https://t.co/vbWFqrubIJ — Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) September 28, 2016

Tony Abbott, who was prime minister at the time of the incident in 2014, tweeted that Russia needed to face the facts:

A very thorough Dutch-led report on the MH17 atrocity, confirming that a Russian missile downed the plane. Putin should face the truth. — Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) September 28, 2016

“A very thorough Dutch-led report on the MH17 atrocity, confirming that a Russian missile downed the plane.”

“Putin should face the truth.”

Abbott had already urged Russia to “own up to its role” in a radio interview on Tuesday. As prime minister, he famously threatened to “shirtfront” president Putin over the incident.



Paul Guard, an Australian whose parents were killed on MH17, had criticised Abbott’s previous comments – and finger-pointing from Russia and the west over the incident – as unconstructive.