Putin Apologises for Azerbaijani Plane Crash, Mum on Russia ‘Complicity’

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday expressed his sorrow for the “tragic” downing of an Azerbaijani plane in Russian airspace, but stopped short of assigning blame to Russia for the crash, which has resulted in 38 deaths and numerous injuries.

The incident, which occurred on December 25, has sparked intense criticism, particularly from Ukraine, which has accused Russia of being complicit in the crash. Ukrainian presidential spokesman Andriy Yermak stated that Russia must be held accountable for the incident.

Azerbaijan’s transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev, confirmed that the plane was subjected to “external interference,” suffering damage both internally and externally as it tried to land in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya. According to Nabiyev, survivors reported hearing three blast sounds while the aircraft was above Grozny before the plane was diverted towards Kazakhstan, where it eventually crashed.

While Russia has denied responsibility, it has suggested that Ukraine may have played a role in the crash. Russia’s civil aviation head Dmitry Yadrov stated that the situation in Grozny was “very complicated” due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Yadrov further explained that a “Carpet plan” had been initiated at Grozny’s airport, requiring all aircraft to immediately depart from the area due to ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure by Ukrainian drones in Grozny and Vladikavkaz. He added that dense fog also contributed to the chaotic conditions.

Despite Putin’s apology, the debate surrounding the cause of the crash remains unresolved, with Ukraine asserting Russia’s involvement and Russia deflecting the blame towards Ukraine’s military actions.