MH17: UN Security Council backs Australian resolution condemning Malaysia Airlines plane's downing

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously backed an Australian-sponsored resolution over the downing of MH17, with Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop condemning the "grotesque violations" at the crash site.

Russia backed the resolution at the eleventh hour after some changes were made to the text, including the characterisation of the incident as "the downing" of Malaysia Airlines MH17 rather than the "shooting down".

The resolution puts in place an international, independent investigation into the plane crash and puts more pressure on Moscow to use its influence over the separatists.

The vote came as a train carrying the remains of most of the 298 victims of the tragedy left the crash site en route to the Ukrainian city of Kharkov, and pro-Russian separatists handed the aircraft's black boxes over to Malaysian investigators in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.

A ceasefire has also been declared within a 10-kilometre radius around the crash site, to allow international investigators to safely access the area.

The message from this council to those who were responsible for this atrocity is definitive: you will be held to account for your actions.

Julie Bishop

Ms Bishop told the UN Security Council that the jet's downing was an "outrage", and described the vote as "an unambiguous response from the international community to an utterly deplorable act".

"Our nation mourns the death of all the victims. I cannot begin to fathom the pain and anguish their families feel," Ms Bishop said.

She said that rebels hampering recovery efforts at the crash site "demanded a response".

"This is why Australia has brought this resolution to the Security Council. The Security Council has responded," she said.

"The victims must be treated with dignity."

The UN resolution demands that "safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the crash site be provided so the investigating authorities can carry out their work".

"It is despicable that this access is not being provided. It is an affront to the victims and their families," Ms Bishop said.

"All states, armed groups - everyone must cooperate with the investigation.

"The message from this council to those who were responsible for this atrocity is definitive: you will be held to account for your actions.

"We have an overriding objective, to ensure dignity, respect, and justice for those killed on MH17."