Remains of 80 bodies still at MH17 crash site, reports UK daily

The remains of about 80 victims are still at the MH17 crash site in eastern Ukraine as well as personal belongings that have yet to be secured amid frustrations faced by investigators in trying to access the area, The Telegraph reported.

‎Anger is also said to be intensifying in the west against Russia, which is accused of undermining investigations into MH17 which was shot down with 298 on board on July 17.

The report said that the European Union, United States and Australia blamed Russia for arming the separatists who are suspected to have shot down the Malaysia Airlines jetliner.

Dutch and Australian experts have been trying for five days to reach the crash site‎.

‎"My great fear is Russia is actively undermining this process.

“We learned today that there could be the remains of up to 80 bodies on the site," Australia's foreign minister Julie Bishop was quoted saying.

It was reported earlier today that the global team of investigators probing into the downing of MH17 was been unable to access the crash site at Donetsk, Ukraine, because of unsafe conditions, including the possibility of landmines.

The Telegraph reported that investigators have been unable to get to the crash site in search of more bodies as fighting raged on in the area between Ukraine forces and Russian separatists.

The report added that a G7 statement had urged all parties to establish and maintain a ceasefire around the area as demanded by the UN Security Council resolution.

The daily also said that EU had blacklisted two of Russian president Vladimir Putin's closest cronies and frozen the assets of the Russian company that made the missiles believed to have been used to down the Kuala Lumpur-bound flight.

More EU sanctions will come into force tomorrow and will see some of Russia's biggest banks cut off from the international money market.

"We have witnessed with anger and frustration the delays in providing international access to the site of the air crash, the tampering with the remains of the plane, and the disrespectful handling of the deceased,” The Telegraph reported, citing a statement agreed by all EU leaders. – July 31, 2014.