Around a thousand people including President Volodymyr Zelensky bid farewell to Ukrainians who died in a plane mistakenly shot down by Iran during a spike in tensions with Washington.

Zelensky laid flowers on the flag-draped coffins of the 11 Ukrainian victims – nine flight crew and two passengers – during the solemn ceremony at Kiev’s Boryspil airport and briefly spoke to their relatives.

The caskets were to remain for several hours at the terminal so that relatives, Ukraine International Airlines staff and ordinary Ukrainians could say their last goodbyes.

The funerals are expected to be held on Monday.