The Hague, Netherlands - Russian President Vladimir Putin played an active role in shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, according to international investigators.

They came to this conclusion after listening to intercepted telephone conversations, the team of investigators announced in The Hague on Wednesday.

The Boeing passenger plane was shot down by a Russian BUK anti-aircraft missile over contested territory in July 2014. All 298 people on board died. Russia has always denied any involvement in the downing of the Boeing.

There were "strong indications" that the decision to offer the BUK missiles to the pro-Russian rebels was taken by Putin, but investigators said they did not have evidence that Putin had actually ordered the shooting down of the plane. Moreover, Putin was immune from prosecution by virtue of his office.

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There was insufficient evidence against other suspects, investigators said, which is why the investigation is being closed, for now.

"We have reached our limits," investigators said.

The plane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014, when it was shot down.

Three Russians and one Ukrainian – all of whom held senior positions with the pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine at the time – were indicted. Last year, three of them were found guilty in a trial in the Netherlands and sentenced to life in prison.

One man was acquitted. The accused did not take part in the trial.

Most of the victims were Dutch, which is why the trial took place in the Netherlands.