MH17 The Ukrainian government and separatist groups have agreed to create a safety zone around the site where Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 crashed in the Donetsk region in the eastern part of that country.

Ukraine Ambassador to Malaysia Ihor V Humenyyi told Bernama the Ukrainian authorities and the rebels - currently in control of the territory - had agreed that no combat action would be carried out in the area of 400 square kilometers (20km x 20km) to enable investigations.

Speaking to Bernama today, he said the authorities were taking every step to ensure the safety of the international team moving into the area, especially the investigation team from Malaysia.

"I am sure everything has been done to ensure the safety of the team," he said.

He said however, the next-of-kin of the MH17 victims would be taken to Kharkiv - several hundred kilometres from the area - for their safety and to enable them to wait for the result of the recovery operation.

Flight MH17, carrying 298 people, including 15 crew was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was believed to have been shot down in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine near the Russian border.  

The aircraft had left Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Netherlands time) Thursday and was to have arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10am (Malaysian time) Friday.

‘Go in and get out fast’

Prime Minister Najib Razak said early Friday that Ukrainian authorities believed the Boeing 777 aircraft was shot down. Malaysia has vowed to find out precisely what caused MH17 to crash.

The Malaysian special investigation team comprising 131 personnel from various government agencies arrived at the Kiev International Airport in Ukraine on Saturday.

Humenyyi said besides the Ukrainian and Malaysian teams, there were also representatives from Interpol and aviation organisations including the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), heading to the crash site to investigate the cause of the crash.

Explaining further, he said there were also personnel from the Ukrainian Ministry of Emergency Situations with special technologies, techniques and experience to assist the international team with their respective tasks.

Wary of the troubled crash site, the envoy reminded the team to get out of the troubled area as soon as they had completed what they intended to do.

"It is not necessary to be there for a long time. Take whatever possible and go to the special laboratory or places to check," he advised.

- Bernama