In a rare acknowledgment of a catastrophic incident in Russian airspace, President Vladimir Putin has apologised to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev following the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines commercial plane on Christmas Day.
The crash, which claimed 38 lives and left 29 injured, has sparked international outrage and raised questions about Russia’s accountability.
The Kremlin, in its first statement on the matter, described the event as a “tragic incident” that unfolded as Russian air defense systems were actively repelling Ukrainian drone attacks.
Despite expressing condolences to the victims’ families, Putin refrained from taking direct responsibility for the crash, instead pointing to the volatile situation in the region.
The Azerbaijan Airlines flight was attempting to land at Grozny Airport in Chechnya when it reportedly came under fire from Russian air defense systems. Forced to divert over the Caspian Sea, the plane ultimately crash-landed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people aboard. Survivors reported hearing loud explosions, further supporting theories that the plane was targeted.
Russian aviation authorities had initially described the airspace as “very complicated,” citing ongoing Ukrainian drone strikes on Chechen airspace. Aviation experts and officials in Azerbaijan, however, believe electronic jamming may have interfered with the plane’s GPS, leaving it vulnerable to Russian missile shrapnel.
On Saturday, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin had spoken directly with Aliyev to offer his apologies and condolences. The statement noted Putin’s acknowledgment that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane had made repeated attempts to land in Grozny before being forced to divert.
“President Vladimir Putin apologised for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace and once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” the Kremlin said.
Putin explained that Russian air defenses were responding to attacks on Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz by Ukrainian drones at the time of the crash.
While Azerbaijan has not officially accused Russia of responsibility, its transport minister has called the crash a result of “external interference.”
US defense officials, however, have directly attributed the incident to Russian air defense systems, heightening tensions between Moscow and the West.
Azerbaijan has launched its own investigation, while Russian authorities have initiated a criminal probe. Analysts predict these parallel investigations could lead to conflicting narratives, further complicating the situation.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with aviation experts calling for greater transparency from Moscow. Critics argue that Russia’s failure to issue an earlier response reflects poorly on its handling of the crisis.
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