An international inquiry into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 believes high-level Russian officials were directing separatists in eastern Ukraine linked to the attack.
Investigators allege a top aide of President Vladimir Putin was in contact with rebel leaders on a regular basis.
All 298 people on board were killed when a missile struck the plane over rebel-held territory on 17 July 2014.
Russia's foreign ministry has rejected the latest findings.
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said international investigators had manipulated the inquiry to suit a predetermined conclusion.
Investigators have charged four people, including a separatist defence chief. The suspects are due to go on trial, probably in absentia, in April 2020.
What do the investigators say?
The Netherlands-based inquiry team have not linked Russia directly to the attack on the plane but they say the phone-taps show contact with two of the four suspects already charged with murdering the passengers and crew.
While MH17 is not mentioned in the phone-taps, provided by Ukraine's SBU intelligence, investigators believe Moscow officials knew what was going on on the ground and had influence over “administrative, financial and military matters” in the separatists' self-styled Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).
The inquiry has already said the Bukh…
