Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a rare apology to Azerbaijan for a tragic incident that occurred over Russian airspace on Christmas Day. An Azerbaijan Airlines plane, Flight J2-8243, crashed after Russian air defense systems reportedly engaged in response to Ukrainian drone strikes. While Putin expressed regret for the loss of life, he did not directly admit that Russian forces were responsible for downing the plane.
The plane, en route from Baku to Grozny, was forced to divert to Kazakhstan after it suffered significant damage. As it neared Chechnya, Russian air defense systems were activated to counter Ukrainian drone attacks. The plane attempted to land in Grozny but ultimately crash-landed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board.
Putin’s apology, issued during a phone call to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, conveyed condolences to the victims’ families. The Kremlin said that Putin also wished the injured a quick recovery. However, the Kremlin did not directly state that Russian forces had downed the plane. Instead, it referred to the plane being damaged during a period of heightened conflict in the region.
Reports from survivors suggest that they heard loud bangs shortly before the crash, leading experts to believe the plane was hit by a missile or shrapnel from Russian air defenses. The plane’s fuselage showed signs of external damage, and Azerbaijan’s Transport Minister referred to the incident as “external interference.” This has led many to suspect that the plane may have been struck by a missile during its descent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has since called on Russia to provide a clear explanation. He demanded that Moscow cease spreading misinformation and called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Zelensky emphasized that Russia must take responsibility if its forces were indeed involved in the downing of the aircraft.
Azerbaijan has launched its investigation, and Russian authorities have opened a criminal case as well. Experts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia are collaborating at the crash site in Aktau, where the wreckage remains under examination. The tragic incident highlights the growing risks to civilian aviation, even in regions far from active conflict zones, where air defense systems and drones continue to pose a significant threat to airliners.
