Forensics experts from the Netherlands have begun counting the bodies of the victims of downed Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.

The bodies have been moved by train to the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv from the rebel-controlled crash site in eastern Ukraine.

The first series of bodies are due to be flown to the Dutch city of Eindhoven later on this Wednesday.

Nearly 200 of the victims from the crash are Dutch nationals.

The head of the Dutch forensics team, Jan Tuinder, says around one-third of the nearly 300 victims are still unaccounted for.

"And we will continue until the last victim is identified and brought home. As far as we know at this moment, we are talking about 200, and that is for sure 200 victims, which means there are probably remains left in the area where the disaster took place."

Meanwhile, European monitors are calling for investigators with "proper expertise" to intensively inspect the crash site.

Spokesperson for the OSCE monitoring mission, Michael Bociurkiw, says they have noticed "changes" on the scene.

"Fuselage has been moved. And also we're going to be checking our photographic evidence with the Malaysians but it appeared that again that big cone section had been more or less split into two. And also there could have been possible changes to the tail fin as well."

So far there has still not been a full-scale investigation at the site.

The Ukrainian rebels have handed over the plane's two black boxes to Malaysian authorities.

The devices are being taken to the UK for analysis.

In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers have announced more sanctions against Russia for its alleged backing of the Ukrainian rebels.

Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans says the sanctions include more visa bans and asset freezes on more officials.

"We've also decided that the commission will be tasked to look at a number of potential measures in a number of fields including defense, duel use goods and high tech goods including in the energy sector and financial services."

The EU decision comes on the heels of the United States bringing down more sanctions on Russia last week connected to the situation in Ukraine.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)