The thirty additional researchers who were sent to Kharkiv last week returned to the Netherlands, because the security situation in eastern Ukraine is less stable than hoped, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated on Friday.

"At the moment it is simply not safe enough to send our people in the field and that is also the judgment of our international partners Malaysia and Australia," Rutte said. "A group of 20 people stays in Kharkiv, which will ensure that we remain on operational strength."

Last Friday the prime minister announced the arrival of the additional investigators due to 'hopeful' developments since the cease-fire in Ukraine. The aim was to get back to the crash site again, but they did not reach that goal.

Rutte emphasized that the group of extra soldiers and police sent last week have done their work. "All preparations have been made for the return of the mission as soon as possible," he said.

On August 6 the Dutch government decided to stop the recovery and repatriation mission on the MH17 crash site until further notice due to the deteriorating security conditions in the area.

The plane crash on July 17 killed all 298 people on board. Endit

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