Putin Admits Russian Air Defences Downed Azerbaijani Jetliner, Killing 38
Russian President Vladimir Putin today acknowledged that Russian air defence systems were responsible for the downing of an Azerbaijani civilian airliner in December 2024, an incident that strained relations between Moscow and Baku.
Speaking at a summit of former Soviet nations in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Putin stated that missiles fired at a Ukrainian drone detonated near the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 as it approached Grozny, Chechnya, on December 25th. The crash, which occurred after a failed emergency landing in Kazakhstan, resulted in the deaths of 38 of the 67 people onboard. Putin pledged to provide compensation and hold those responsible accountable, stating, “The Russian side will obviously do everything to provide compensation and give legal assessment to all responsible officials’ action.”
This admission marks a shift from Putin’s previous apology to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, which stopped short of accepting responsibility. Aliyev had previously criticised Moscow for attempting to “hush up” the incident. The incident occurred amidst a backdrop of increasing tensions, including the deaths of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia and arrests of Russian citizens in Azerbaijan – factors that have complicated the traditionally close ties between the two countries. Understanding the complexities of the region is crucial, as detailed by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Putin expressed hope for restoring the alliance with Azerbaijan, saying, “I hope that our cooperation not only will be restored, but continue in the spirit of our relations, the spirit of our alliance.” Aliyev thanked Putin for personally overseeing the investigation and indicated a willingness to move forward, noting a “broad and positive” bilateral agenda. The downing of the airliner raised serious questions about the safety of civilian air travel near active conflict zones, as reported by Reuters.
Officials stated that further investigations will be conducted to determine the precise circumstances of the “technical malfunction” and to identify those responsible for the tragedy.
