• The European Court of Human Rights ruled Russia committed multiple human rights violations in Ukraine.
• For the first time, Russia is officially named responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 by an international court.
• These rulings encompass a range of atrocities, including murder, torture, and the kidnapping of children.

On July 9, 2025, Europe’s top human rights court rendered significant judgments against Russia, ruling that the country had violated international law throughout its conflict in Ukraine. This unprecedented ruling marks the first instance of an international court finding Moscow guilty of human rights abuses since its full-scale invasion began in 2022, according to Al Jazeera, Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, and Africa News.

The court specifically identified Russia's role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, also marking it as the first time an international body has held Russia accountable for this disaster, which resulted in the deaths of all 298 occupants on board in 2014. The judges noted that the attack on the passenger aircraft was executed using a Russian-made missile, and they emphasized that Russia's systematic refusal to investigate its actions contributed to the suffering of victims' families, according to Le Monde, Los Angeles Times, and Africa News.

Furthermore, the European Court's findings outlined Russia’s widespread human rights abuses post-2022 invasion, including murder, torture, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, with the court's president stating that these acts went beyond any military objectives and were intended to instill terror among Ukrainian civilians. The judgment was described as a major victory for Ukraine, especially by families of MH17 victims, who see it as pivotal in their long pursuit for justice, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

The court's governing body had expelled Russia in 2022 after the invasion, but it can still address cases prior to that. While the decisions are largely seen as symbolic, many legal experts believe they serve to formalize the record of Russia’s violations. The court is expected to address financial compensation in future rulings, although prospects for Russia to pay such damages remain low, according to Le Monde and Africa News.