Photo essay: What remains of the lives lost on MH17

Even the field itself is a matter of controversy. The downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17–the Boeing jet that was heading from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down on July 17–crashed in the rebel-controlled town of Torez, in war-zone Ukraine, amid the farmland grasses and outcroppings. Politicians in Russia, America and the Ukraine have posed and preened and prevaricated, leaving the identity of the perpetrators to remain a mystery–the Ukrainian government, or the pro-Russian separatists. Allies have raised voices and promised sanctions; an investigation has yet to truly occur, despite the many demands for one. But in the meantime, the sad matter of recovering the bodies of the 298 passengers and crew who died has been going steadily, being collected and carried on a refrigerated train, despite some initial delays with gun-toting guards on the scene. Through it all, even still, there are no answers. All we have are the items left behind, the personal effects that stand as enduring proof that these were real, breathing souls who were lost here. Here are some glimpses into the lives of those who died in the crash: