Dutch investigators released the content of the alleged conversation between Russian officials and Ukrainian separatists in connection with MH17.

"The relationship between Russian officials and the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) seems to be much more intimate than originally anticipated," said Andy Kraag, head of the police's Crime Investigation Bureau. The Netherlands, today said in a video announcement, referring to the separatist group in eastern Ukraine.

The announcement came as Dutch investigators released content they blocked obtained from telephone conversations allegedly between high-ranking Russian officials and suspects identified in connection with the case. downing MH17 aircraft over Ukraine in 2014.

Investigators said they broadcast "new witness calls" based on the content of these calls. They also claimed to have identified Russian officials and Ukrainian separatists using secure communication lines likely provided by the Russian Federation General Security Service (FSB).

"Russian officials have used special phones when communicating with Ukrainian separatists," said David Nelson, a senior investigative officer at the Australian Federal Police. "We have published records of telephone conversations between them administrative, financial and military," Nelson added.

Russia has not commented on the allegations.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people on board. The US and its European allies claimed Russia was responsible for the tragedy and imposed a series of sanctions, but did not provide clear evidence. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The Netherlands-led Joint Investigation Group (JIT) was established shortly after the accident, with the participation of Ukraine, Belgium and Australia. Russia proposed to join the investigation but was rejected.

In 2018, JIT claimed the plane was shot down by the BUK missile system from the Russian Army's 53 air defense missile brigade, citing "confidential information" provided by the US and Dutch authorities.

Russia conducted a private investigation showing that the BUK missile shot down the aircraft was built at the Dolgoprudny factory in the Moscow metropolitan area in 1986, was delivered to a military unit in Ukraine and remained there after the Soviet Union dissolved. disintegrated in 1991. However, this evidence was ignored by JIT.

JIT in June issued arrest warrants and charged with the murder of three Russian citizens accused of transferring the BUK rocket system to eastern Ukraine and downing a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. JIT plans to bring three suspects to trial in a Dutch court in March 2020, though the suspects are likely to be absent. Russia said it regretted the results of the investigation and called the charges of murder against Russian suspects unfounded.