Explosions ring out as MH17 investigators return to Ukraine crash site
International delegation finally reach MH17 crash site after days of fighting between government troops and pro-Russian separatist rebels prevented them from reaching the area
Explosions rang out near the crash site of downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine yesterday as international investigators arrived for the first time in nearly a week after Kiev announced a pause in its offensive against rebels.
A team of Dutch and Australian experts accompanied by a team of international monitors on Thursday reached the crash site of downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 after days of fierce fighting that had stopped them reaching the area.
“Monitors reach MH17 crash site for 1st time in almost week, accompanied by four Dutch and Australian experts. Used new route to access,” the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s monitoring mission in charge of facilitating the international probe wrote on Twitter.
Fighting along the route to the wreckage site between government troops and pro-Russian separatist rebels had for several days kept the delegation from reaching the area.
Kiev said on Thursday it had suspended offensive operations in its military campaign in the east to help international experts reach the downed Malaysian airliner’s crash site but separatists were continuing to attack its positions.