A Dutch military liaison officer has been attached to Ukrainian forces fighting pro-Russian rebels in the area where flight MH17 crashed nearly two weeks ago, the defence ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

‘It is customary to use liaison officers in the field during major operations,’ a ministry spokesman is quoted as saying by the NRC. The aim is to ensure Dutch officials get correct and up-to-date information about the conflict.

Asked if there is also a Dutch liaison officer with the rebels, the spokesman said: ‘We are also in talks with the separatists but that contact is via the OSCE.’

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador to the Netherlands, Olexander Horin, told the Telegraaf Ukraine is currently engaged in an offensive to ensure the safe passage of investigators to the crash site.

The Dutch team attempting to find the remaining victims and investigate the cause of the crash were again prevented from reaching the area on Wednesday because of the fighting.

In total, 298 people died when the Boeing 777 was apparently hit by a missile.