Dutch prosecutors in The Hague say initial results from a criminal investigation into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014 will be revealed in September.
The results of the probe are expected to clarify the exact type of missile that is claimed to have been used to shoot down the plane and the exact spot where it was fired from.
In October 2015, an international inquiry concluded that the plane had been shot down by a Russian-made BUK missile. The inquiry suspected that pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine could have been responsible for the incident. The pro-Russians deny any responsibility, blaming Ukrainian government forces for the tragedy.
Wim de Bruin, spokesman for the Dutch public prosecutor's office, said there were “informed victims' relatives that we will have a new meeting on September 28 where the results of the criminal investigation will be unveiled.”
Flight MH17, with a total of 283 passengers, including 80 children, and 15 crew members on board, was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014. The aircraft was traveling over the conflict-hit eastern Ukraine when it disappeared from radar. The majority of those on board were Dutch citizens.
The September meeting is to be held in Nieuwegein municipality outside Utrecht in central Netherlands and relatives of the victims have been invited to take part in the session.