Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine gave the black box flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the downed Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 to Malaysian investigators, during a meeting in the city of Donetsk.

“I can see that the black boxes are intact, although a bit damaged.  In good condition,” said Malaysian Col. Mohamed Sakri.  Investigators hope the recorders will reveal the exact time of the incident and the altitude and exact position of the aircraft, as well as what was happening in the cockpit before and after the missile strike.  The rebels also allowed a train hauling refrigerated cars containing the bodies more than 280 of the MH17 victims to leave a rural train station and proceed to Donetsk.

Earlier, the UN Security Council passed an Australian resolution calling for a “full, thorough and independent international investigation” into the downing of the plane, which the west widely suspects was shot down by an anti-aircraft missile launched by pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine.  It also demanded that those responsible “be held to account and that all states co-operate fully with efforts to establish accountability”.