A separatist leader in eastern Ukraine says rebels have recovered the black boxes for the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Alexander Borodai said Sunday that the devices would be handed over to the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

He also said the bodies recovered from the crash site in eastern Ukraine would remain in refrigerated containers at a train station in the town of Torez until the arrival of an international aviation delegation.

The plane was shot down on Thursday over disputed territory, killing 298 passengers and crew.