Crash of an Azerbaijani plane: Putin acknowledges Russian air defense fire and issues an apology

Russian president Vladimir Putin admitted on Saturday, December 28, that Russian air defense was active at the time an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan. The Embraer 190 aircraft was carrying 67 people, 38 of whom lost their lives in this tragic incident.

A critical situation in Chechnya
Last Wednesday, as the plane attempted to land at Grozny airport in Chechnya, the cities of Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz were under attack by Ukrainian combat drones. Vladimir Putin stated during a phone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, that Russian air defenses were repelling these attacks. However, he provided no indication of any direct involvement of Russian fire in the crash.

A detour followed by tragedy
The plane made several attempts to land in Grozny before diverting to Aktau, several hundred kilometers away from its intended destination, where it crashed shortly afterward. The aircraft caught fire upon impact, causing significant human and material damage.

Suspicion and a call for investigation
Experts and witnesses have reported that multiple holes in the fuselage and testimonies from survivors suggest the possibility that the plane was hit by Russian air defense fire. The European Union has called for a “rapid and independent” investigation into the incident.

Putin’s apology
Despite not directly acknowledging Russia’s responsibility, Putin offered his apologies to Ilham Aliyev for the tragic event occurring in Russian airspace. Earlier, the Russian government had refrained from commenting on the White House’s statement that the plane might have been “shot down by Russian air defense systems.”