MOSCOW, RUSSIA: In a rare acknowledgment, President Vladimir Putin has admitted that Russian air defenses were responsible for the December 2024 crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, which resulted in the deaths of 38 people. The revelation marks a sharp shift from Moscow’s earlier stance, which denied involvement in the incident.
Putin made the admission during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, explaining that Russian forces were targeting a Ukrainian drone when two missiles detonated near the civilian aircraft. He emphasized that the missiles did not directly strike the jet but exploded “a few metres away,” leading to catastrophic damage.
According to Putin, Russian air traffic control had initially instructed the plane to attempt an emergency landing in Makhachkala, but the pilots diverted toward Kazakhstan, where the aircraft ultimately crashed. The jet, an Embraer 190, had been en route from Baku to Grozny (Chechnya) when the explosion occurred over Russian airspace — a route already deemed high-risk due to ongoing regional tensions.
Putin expressed remorse over the loss of life and vowed full compensation to victims’ families, along with an “objective investigation” to determine accountability within the Russian military command. President Aliyev, while appreciating the Russian leader’s candor, called for transparency and cooperation to prevent future tragedies.
The acknowledgment has stirred diplomatic waves across the region, as analysts view it as Moscow’s attempt to ease strained relations with Baku and repair its credibility following months of speculation and denial.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.