Today's MH17 news in less than two minutes

Pro-Russian separatists loot MH17 crash site

Valuable evidence may have been destroyed as pro-Russian separatists have raided the MH17 crash site. The rebels are believed to have taken debris and personal belongings, and there are conflicting reports as to the location of the plane’s black box.

Horrifically, The Interpreter is reporting that as many as 36 bodies have been stolen from the site, with the intention of taking them to Donetsk.

It is unclear as to when humanitarian organisations will be allowed access to the site. It is currently being reported that the separatists blocked a team from the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) from entering the site, firing warning shots at the humanitarian worker.

Queensland family loses relatives in both MH370 and MH17 tragedies

A Queensland family is in mourning today after losing a loved one in the MH17 tragedy, after experiencing the same grief following the disappearance of Flight MH370.

Irene and George Burrows of Biloela, in northern Queensland, lost their son Rodney Burrows and daughter-in-law Mary on Flight MH370, and have just found out that their step-granddaughter Maree Rizk and her husband Albert were passengers on Flight MH17.

“It has been a very trying day,” the couple’s son Greg told The Courier-Mail. “This has just blown everyone clean out of the water.”

Australia mourns the loss of 28 in Flight MH17

Flags are being flown at half-mast today as further names of the Australians on board Flight MH17 are released.

For the current list of Australian victims, click here.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Governor-General Peter Cosgrove will attend a memorial service in Sydney on Sunday. The service will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral, the cathedral of Sydney Archdiocese, of which MH17 victim Sr Philomene Tiernan was a member.

The Australian Ukrainian community has extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of Flight MH17, and announced rallies and prayer vigils to be held across the country.

“At this time we must pray for the souls of the departed, we must pray that international leaders have the wisdom and strength to act responsibly in stopping ongoing atrocities in Ukraine” Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations Chairman Stefan Romaniw said

The Ukrainian community will be holding a rally in Sydney’s CBD today.

Putin responds to Abbott’s comments

A statement from the Russian government has described Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s decision to blame them for the deaths of 298 people on board Flight MH17 as “unacceptable”.

The statement read: “Without bothering himself about evidence and operating only on speculation, Mr T. Abbott assigned guilt. Abbott’s statements are unacceptable.”

The Russian response comes after US President Barack Obama made similar statements to Mr Abbott overnight, blaming Russia for the disaster.

Insurance company apologises after running Malaysia Airlines disaster ad

An insurance company has apologised after running a Google Ad which read, ‘Is the MH17 Malaysia Airlines tragedy a sign to consider life insurance?’ Victorian insurance firm Lisa Group had also purchased the Google keyword ‘Malaysian Airlines’. An employee of Lisa Group told Mumbrella that it was a mistake made by the company’s overseas SEO firm, who managed their online marketing. The employee apologised for any distress caused.

Russia Today journalist resigns over MH17 coverage

A journalist at Russian government-funded news service Russia Today has left her job following her workplace’s coverage of the MH17 crash. London-based journalist Sara Firth, who had been with Russia Today since 2009, told Buzzfeed: “I couldn’t do it anymore. Every single day we’re lying and finding sexier ways to do it.” Firth also expressed disapproval at the network’s decision ensure that its least experienced and most easily controlled journalists were covering the story.