MH17 Shot Down By Russian-Made Buk Missile

Victims' relatives briefed on the 15-month investigation were told all those on the flight died almost instantly.

Investigators have concluded Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile over eastern Ukraine.

The Boeing 777 was brought down as it flew over heavy fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists last year, killing all 298 people on board.

The front of the jet has been reassembled in a hanger at Gilze-Rijen Airforce Base in The Netherlands, where the report is being handed down.

The investigators' report focuses on four distinct aspects of the crash: the cause, the extent to which the passengers on board were conscious of the crash, the issue of flying over conflict areas and, finally, the question over why Dutch victims' relatives had to wait two to four days before receiving confirmation from Dutch authorities that their loved ones were on board.

The investigation is not tasked with apportioning blame or liability for the crash - although it is possible that other conclusions could indirectly indicate blame.

The Ukrainian and Western governments have long blamed pro-Russian separatists, claiming they used a Russian-supplied Buk missile, fragments of which were found at the crash site.

Both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries have Buk missile systems in their arsenal.