In a stunning turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly taken responsibility for Russia’s role in the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane that killed 38 people. The admission, made during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Tajikistan, marks the first time Moscow has formally acknowledged its involvement in the tragic event.
Putin explained that the catastrophe was an unintended consequence of a military operation. On the day of the crash, Russian air defense systems fired missiles to intercept Ukrainian drones. He stated that these drones detonated just “meters away” from the Azerbaijan Airlines flight, leading to its accidental downing. Putin called the incident a profound “tragedy.”
The ill-fated jet crashed on Christmas Day, 2024, while flying from Baku to the Russian city of Grozny. Azerbaijani officials had maintained that the plane was inadvertently struck by Russian air defense fire. The aircraft attempted to make an emergency landing in Kazakhstan but crashed, resulting in a devastating loss of life for 38 of the 67 people aboard.
The admission comes after months of diplomatic friction. President Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” its role, a charge that highlights the deep rift that has formed between the two formerly close allies. The relationship had already been deteriorating due to other disputes, including the treatment of ethnic minorities.
In his statement, Putin sought to reassure his Azerbaijani counterpart, promising that Russia would not shy away from its responsibilities. He pledged that adequate compensation would be provided to the families of the victims and that the officials involved in the incident would face a legal review of their actions.