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Speaking at the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, Bishop said Russia's use of its veto power was "an affront to the memory of the 298 victims of MH17 and their families and friends."

"In a world with an increasing number of violent terrorist groups and other non-state actors, many with sophisticated military capabilities, it is inconceivable that the Security Council would now walk away from holding to account those who brought down a commercial aeroplane," she told the UN assembly.

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"The veto only compounds the atrocity," she said. "Only one hand was raised in opposition, but a veto should never be allowed to deny justice."

Bishop said that "the anticipated excuses and obfuscation by the Russian Federation should be treated with the utmost disdain."

"The exercise of the veto today is an affront to the memory of the 298 victims of MH17 and their families and friends," she said.

"Russia has made a mockery of its own commitment to accountability enshrined in resolution 2166," she said.

"Those responsible may believe that they can now hide behind the Russian Federation's veto. They will not be allowed to evade justice," she said.

"I make this pledge to the families and friends of those aboard MH17. Australia will continue to do everything we can to ensure the perpetrators of this barbaric act are held to account," she added.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on setting up an MH17 international criminal tribunal to prosecute those responsible for downing a Malaysia Airlines plane over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014 that killed all 298 people on board.