The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin leader admitted that a Russian missile exploded near an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in 2024, causing the disaster in December last year.
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, acknowledged for the first time this Thursday his country’s responsibility in the disaster that involved a plane manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraerwhich in Kazakhstan provoked the death of 38 people in December 2024.
During a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin admitted that Russian air defense forces had launched two missiles to destroy Ukrainian drones on the morning of the accident and that, due to a “technical failure”these exploded just 10 meters from the aircraft.
At the time, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that departed from Baku to Russia was scheduled to land in the Russian city of Grozny, but ended up being diverted after problems with the GPS system and an apparent explosion that led to the “loss of control” of the aircraft.
According to Putin, air traffic controllers advised the pilot to try to land in the Russian city of Makhachkala, but he first tried to return to his home airport and then head to Kazakhstan, where the plane ended up crashing. The pilot tried to land twice, without success.
“The two missiles fired did not directly hit the plane. If that had happened, it would have crashed immediately,” said the Russian president, who promised to punish those responsible. “Russia will do everything necessary to provide compensationand the actions of all those responsible will be evaluated judicially”, he added.
Disaster affected relations between Moscow and Baku
Aliyev, who had previously accused Russia of trying to cover up the true cause of the accident, thanked Putin for providing “detailed information about the tragedy,” according to a statement released by the Kremlin.
Initial statements from the Russian air transport agency after the crash suggested that the passenger plane had been forced to divert following a bird strike.
Azerbaijani authorities, on the other hand, maintained that the Embraer 190 jet had been shot down by Russian fire. Days after the accident, for what he classified as a “tragic incident”, he acknowledged that air attacks were taking place at that time, but did not admit responsibility.
The controversy shook the previously close relations between Moscow and Baku, leading Azerbaijan to move ever closer to the United States. Tensions worsened further after Russian police detained Azerbaijani citizens suspected of terrorism, and Azerbaijani security forces arrested alleged Russian drug traffickers.
Putin expressed hope of overcoming tension between the two countries and rebuilding bilateral relations.
“I hope that our cooperation will not only be restored, but will continue in the spirit of our relations and our alliance,” he said.
Aliyev and Putin met in Tajikistan, where they participated in a summit of countries from the former Soviet Union.
