Putin admitted Russia’s air defense caused the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, accepting responsibility for the loss of 38 lives.
MOSCOW – In a rare acknowledgment of military error, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Thursday that Russia’s air defense forces were responsible for the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger jet last December, an incident that killed 38 people Azerbaijan Airlines plane and strained ties between the two neighboring nations.
Speaking during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of a summit of former Soviet republics in Dushanbe, Putin said that Russian air defense missiles intended to intercept a Ukrainian drone exploded dangerously close to the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, which was preparing to land in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, on December 25, 2024.
“It was our air defense system that caused this tragedy,” Putin said. “We accept full responsibility. Those accountable will be punished, and appropriate compensation will be provided to the victims’ families.”
The admission marks the first time Putin has publicly accepted responsibility for the crash, which occurred amid escalating tensions as Ukrainian drones continue to strike deep inside Russian territory.
According to Azerbaijani authorities, the Embraer 190 was accidentally hit by a Russian missile while en route from Baku to Grozny. After sustaining severe damage, the pilots attempted an emergency landing in western Kazakhstan, but the plane crashed before reaching the runway. Of the 67 passengers and crew on board, 38 were killed.
In the immediate aftermath, Putin expressed condolences and described the crash as a “tragic incident,” but stopped short of admitting direct responsibility. Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev, however, accused Moscow of attempting to “hush up” the truth and demanded a transparent investigation.
The crash dealt a heavy blow to the traditionally warm relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, allies with significant historical and economic ties. Tensions worsened in mid-2025 after several ethnic Azerbaijanis died in police custody in a Russian city and Russians were detained in Azerbaijan in what analysts described as a tit-for-tat escalation.
Putin’s latest remarks appear to signal a diplomatic effort to ease friction and restore trust with Baku, which has maintained a delicate balance between Moscow and Western powers during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As both leaders met in Tajikistan, observers saw Putin’s public acknowledgment as an attempt to rebuild dialogue and prevent further deterioration in a relationship critical to the South Caucasus’ fragile stability.
Following the meeting, the Kremlin confirmed that a joint investigation team would be formed, while Azerbaijan’s presidential office described the admission as “a necessary and overdue step toward justice.”
While questions remain over the circumstances of the missile launch and the competence of Russian air defense systems, Putin’s admission marks a significant shift in tone—acknowledging not only a tragic mistake but also the broader risks of a war that continues to ripple far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Putin Cites Technical Malfunction in Russian Missile Strike That Downed Azerbaijani Jetliner
Dushanbe, Tajikistan — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday publicly confirmed that a technical malfunction in Russia’s air defense system caused the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger jet last December, killing 38 people, as he sought to mend strained relations with Azerbaijan.
Speaking with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit of former Soviet republics in Dushanbe, Putin said that Russian missiles meant to intercept a Ukrainian drone accidentally struck the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, which was preparing to land in Grozny, Chechnya, on December 25, 2024.
According to Putin, two missiles detonated just 10 meters (33 feet) from the aircraft after a “technical malfunction” caused the targeting system to misfire.
“The Russian side will obviously do everything to provide compensation and give legal assessment to all responsible officials’ actions,” Putin declared. “Of course, these words related to this tragedy, aimed at morally supporting the families, do not solve the main problem: we can’t bring back to life those who died as a result of the tragedy.”
Putin expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and stressed that Russia would hold accountable those responsible for the mishap.
Despite the tragedy’s chilling effect on bilateral relations, the Russian leader voiced optimism that Moscow and Baku could rebuild trust.
“I hope that our cooperation not only will be restored but will continue in the spirit of our relations — the spirit of our alliance,” Putin said.
For his part, President Aliyev welcomed the results of Russia’s investigation and praised Putin’s personal involvement in addressing the issue.
“I would like to thank you for keeping the situation under your personal control,” Aliyev said, describing their discussion as covering a “broad and positive” bilateral agenda. “I hope that the messages we are sending today to our societies will meet a positive response.”
The downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines jet, initially attributed to a misdirected Russian missile strike, had caused diplomatic friction between the two countries, once close allies. The new acknowledgment from the Kremlin — now coupled with promises of compensation and justice — could mark a turning point toward reconciliation.
As Moscow grapples with the implications of its military’s deadly error amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine, Thursday’s meeting between Putin and Aliyev underscored both leaders’ intent to restore stability and cooperation within the wider post-Soviet region.