Ukraine closes airspace over MH17 crash area, launches 'security operation'

The Ukrainian government has closed the airspace over its disputed eastern region less than 24 hours after 298 people were killed when MH17 was shot down.

Reuters has reported that the airspace was completely closed over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions while the Ukrainian military carried out a “security operation” against pro-Russian separatists.

The security operation is believed to be a direct response to the shooting down of MH17, which has inflamed tension between the government and the Russian-backed rebels believed to have been responsible for the disaster.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a “thorough and unbiased” investigation into what happened to MH17, denying that his government was involved in the attack and placing the blame solely on Ukrainian forces.