Putin Apologises For Tragic Plane Crash But Stops Short Of Accepting Responsibility.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an apology to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet in Russian airspace, which claimed the lives of 38 passengers. However, Putin stopped short of admitting Russian responsibility for the incident.
The tragedy occurred on Christmas Day when the aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, came under fire as it attempted to land in the Chechen capital. It was forced to divert across the Caspian Sea before crash-landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, with most of the victims being Azerbaijani nationals. Survivors, believed to have been seated at the rear of the plane, included passengers from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
In his first remarks on the incident, Putin described it as a “tragic incident” linked to Russian air defence systems responding to Ukrainian drone attacks in the region. The Kremlin stated that Putin had spoken directly with President Aliyev to express his “deep and sincere condolences” to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The Azerbaijani aircraft had reportedly made multiple attempts to land in Grozny but was forced to divert as Ukrainian drones targeted cities including Grozny, Mozdok, and Vladikavkaz. Russian air defences were actively engaged in repelling the attacks at the time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Russia’s account, accusing Moscow of “spreading disinformation.” Zelensky pointed to damage on the plane’s fuselage as “very reminiscent of an air defence missile strike” and demanded clear explanations from Russia.
“The key priority now is a thorough investigation that will answer all questions about what really happened,” Zelensky said in a statement.
While the Kremlin has thus far refrained from directly admitting to any involvement in the crash, Russian aviation authorities earlier described the situation in the region as “very complicated” due to ongoing Ukrainian drone strikes. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
This rare public apology by Putin highlights the gravity of the incident and the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding it. However, with key questions still unanswered, tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan remain heightened.
