Russia admits downing Azerbaijani jet

Russia admits downing Azerbaijani jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted that Russian air defence systems were responsible for the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger jet in December 2024, an incident that resulted in the deaths of 38 people. This marks his first formal acceptance of blame for the tragedy, which has strained relations between Moscow and Baku.

The aircraft in question was an Embraer 190 operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flying from Baku to Grozny, the regional capital of Chechnya. The incident happened on December 25, 2024, when the plane was preparing to land in Grozny. Russian air defences were firing at Ukrainian drones at the time. Two missiles, intended for the drones, exploded near the airliner, approximately ten metres away, according to Putin. The explosions and resulting missile debris are believed to have inflicted damage on the aircraft.

After the damage, the flight diverted and attempted to make an emergency landing in western Kazakhstan. However, it crashed near Aktau, killing 38 out of 67 people onboard.

Before this acknowledgment, Russia had expressed regret and called the event a “tragic incident” but had not admitted direct responsibility. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had demanded an official admission, accountability, and compensation for the victims and their families.

In his statement, Putin described the event as resulting from a technical malfunction in the defence system, and said Russia will provide compensation and ensure those responsible are held accountable. He emphasized that the admission and support are intended in part to give moral support to the families of the victims.