Shocking footage shows the moment Russian-backed rebels rifled through MH17 victims' belongings following crash that left 298 passengers dead 

  • Shocking footage shows Russian-backed rebels rifle through belongings
  • They initially believed they had shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet 
  • Donetsk People's Republic and Kremlin have always denied responsibility 
  • 298 passengers and crew died after Boeing 777 was shot down last year

By Lydia Willgress and Keiligh Baker for MailOnline

Published: 19:38 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 19:40 EST, 16 July 2015

This is the shocking moment Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine filmed themselves rifling through the belongings of passengers aboard the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

The footage shows the immediate aftermath of Flight MH17 with Russian-back rebels initially believing that had shot down a Ukrainian air force jet. 

The shaky footage, obtained by News Corp Australia, shows a group of rebels trawling through victims' luggage as they wade through the burning wreckage. 

Scroll down for video 

The footage of the immediate aftermath of the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 crash shows the Russian-backed rebels trawling through victims' luggage as they wade through the burning wreckage

The footage of the immediate aftermath of the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 crash shows the Russian-backed rebels trawling through victims' luggage as they wade through the burning wreckage

The footage shows the immediate aftermath of Flight MH17 with Russian-back rebels initially believing that had shot down a Ukrainian air force jet 

The footage shows the immediate aftermath of Flight MH17 with Russian-back rebels initially believing that had shot down a Ukrainian air force jet 

Exactly one year ago, 298 passengers and crew members died aboard the Kuala Lumpur bound flight after it was shot down over east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, on July 17.

The rebels filmed themselves with a camcorder as they approached the wreckage before realising minutes later it was a passenger flight that had been shot down.

In the disturbing video the group's commander can be heard saying on the phone: 'Yes, there are a lot of bodies, women... Anyway, have to go with Vinograbov. Here... you’ll see here.'

The commander tells one of the rebels to open a backpack belonging to one of the 298 passengers as they make a collection of items. 

As the camera continues to survey the wreckage, one of the rebels can be heard saying: 'You see, they are foreigners, Malaysians' when he is shown a name tag belonging to one of the Malaysian Airlines flight attendants. 

'Who opened a corridor for them to fly over here?' another rebel can be heard saying.   

Exactly one year ago, 298 passengers and crew members died aboard the Kuala Lumpur bound flight after it was shot down over east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, on July 17 

Exactly one year ago, 298 passengers and crew members died aboard the Kuala Lumpur bound flight after it was shot down over east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, on July 17 

Emergency service workers remove a body from the scene of the crash in east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, which left 298 passengers and crew dead

Emergency service workers remove a body from the scene of the crash in east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, which left 298 passengers and crew dead

The Boeing 777, which was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was downed by a suspected Russian-made BUK missile on July 17 last year, killing everyone on board.

The commander can be heard in the footage ordering the person filming to not show any of their faces as they rifled through the bags. 

He later asks his team to block off the wreckage area to civilians and clear them from the area as they try to retrieve the aircraft's black box.

At the time of the crash, investigators said the wreckage appeared 'to indicate that the aircraft was penetrated by a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft'.

It comes after it was revealed a Russian separatist leader, Igor Girkin, is being sued for $900million (£575m) by the families of victims who died on the Malaysia Airlines flight.

At the time investigators said the wreckage appeared 'to indicate that the aircraft was penetrated by a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft'

At the time investigators said the wreckage appeared 'to indicate that the aircraft was penetrated by a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft'

An emergency services worker photographs debris from the Malaysia Airlines crash site after it was shot down over east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, in July 2014

An emergency services worker photographs debris from the Malaysia Airlines crash site after it was shot down over east Ukraine, 40km from the Russian border, in July 2014

Debris, body parts and passengers' luggage, like these remote controls, were discovered strewn across the surrounding area after the plane was shot down

Debris, body parts and passengers' luggage, like these remote controls, were discovered strewn across the surrounding area after the plane was shot down

Girkin, who is also known as 'Igor the terrible', was initially accused of being involved in the fatal crash after he wrote on Twitter in the hours after the event: 'We warned you - do not fly in 'our sky'.'

The 44-year-old said he believed he had shot down an Antonov-26 military plane of the Ukrainian Air Force. His tweet was later deleted.

He was also said to be among the laughing rebels that filmed the plane as it disintegrated mid-flight.

Footage released in the days after the crash appears to have captured him gleefully bragging: 'That was a blast - look at the smoke!' while a fireball rose from the debris.

The extraordinary video - apparently filmed by the shooters themselves - charts the final moments of the doomed airliner.

A voice believed to be that of Girkin, who is also referred to as Strelkov, can be heard stating: 'The plane was hit.'

Relatives expressed their continued frustrations over the handling of the tragedy. Above, a girl holds a candle at one of the hundreds of vigils held for the passengers

Relatives expressed their continued frustrations over the handling of the tragedy. Above, a girl holds a candle at one of the hundreds of vigils held for the passengers

 

 

 

 

 

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