Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly accepted that his country played a role in the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijani passenger plane. He described the event as a “tragedy,” marking his first clear acknowledgment of Russian involvement in the disaster.

The Deadly Incident

The Azerbaijan Airlines flight, carrying 67 passengers, crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25, 2024. The aircraft had been rerouted from Grozny, Russia. Sadly, 38 people lost their lives in the crash.

Initial Apology and Rising Tensions

After the crash, Putin expressed regret to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for what he called a “tragic incident.” However, he did not immediately admit responsibility. This hesitation angered Aliyev, who accused Moscow of trying to “hush up” the truth about what had happened.

Putin’s Explanation of the Missile Misfire

In a later meeting with President Aliyev, Putin provided a detailed explanation. He revealed that Russia had launched two missiles aimed at Ukrainian drones, and these missiles exploded “a few metres away” from the Azerbaijani aircraft.
“The two missiles that were fired did not directly hit the aircraft. If that had happened, it would have crashed on the spot,” Putin said, as quoted by AFP.

Putin further stated that Russian air traffic controllers had advised the pilot to land in Makhachkala for safety reasons. However, the pilot chose to return to the original destination. The plane eventually crashed in Kazakhstan while attempting another landing.

Russia’s Promise of Compensation

Putin assured that Moscow would take full responsibility for providing assistance and compensation. “Russia will do everything necessary in such tragic cases to provide compensation, and the actions of all officials will be legally assessed,” he said.

Aliyev’s Response and Bilateral Impact

President Aliyev, who had earlier accused Russia of hiding the truth, thanked Putin for offering “detailed information” and for showing support during the crisis. According to the Kremlin, Aliyev expressed appreciation for Moscow’s cooperation in clarifying the cause of the tragedy.

Strained Relations Between Moscow and Baku

The crash deeply strained ties between Russia and Azerbaijan, a nation with historic connections to Moscow and significant oil wealth. The tension worsened after Russia’s air transport agency initially claimed that the Embraer 190 plane had been diverted because of a bird strike—a statement later proven false.