After being left for days rotting in the summer sun at the rebel-controlled crash site, the 40 corpses of the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 were finally given a dignified ceremony as they were carried in coffins onto the waiting jets by army cadets before a small party of officials.

Following a minute of silence the only sound that could be heard was the tramping of military boots on the tarmac as the young soldiers loaded the bodies ahead of their journey to the Netherlands.