Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Thursday that Russia's air defense systems were responsible for downing an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in December 2024, killing 38 people — marking his first public acknowledgment of culpability in the deadly incident.
In a conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin revealed that two Russian anti-aircraft missiles targeting a Ukrainian drone exploded approximately 10 meters from the passenger jet, causing the crash.
He characterized the incident as a "technical malfunction" and pledged that "the Russian side will obviously do everything to provide compensation and give legal assessment to all responsible officials' actions."
Putin acknowledged that such measures "can't bring back to life those who died as a result of the tragedy." Aliyev thanked Putin for keeping the situation under his personal control and for investigating the cause of the plane's downing.
The Embraer 190 aircraft was struck accidentally by Russian fire and attempted an emergency landing in western Kazakhstan, where it crashed, killing 38 of the 67 people aboard. Azerbaijani authorities had previously stated the plane was hit by Russian fire, contradicting initial Russian explanations.
In the days immediately following the crash, Putin apologized to Aliyev for the "tragic incident" but stopped short of accepting responsibility. Aliyev subsequently criticized Moscow for attempting to "hush up" the incident, straining the traditionally warm relationship between the two nations.
Relations were further tested by the deaths of ethnic Azerbaijanis detained by Russian police in June and subsequent arrests of Russians in Azerbaijan.
The controversy has significantly impacted Moscow-Baku relations at a critical time for the Kremlin. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan has become increasingly important to Moscow as a key transport corridor for trade with Iran and Middle Eastern partners.
The energy-rich Caspian Sea nation also supplies oil and natural gas to help Russia meet export commitments and serves as a major market for Russian agricultural exports, particularly fruits and vegetables. Azerbaijan is home to a substantial Azerbaijani diaspora, estimated between 500,000 and 2 million people.
Azerbaijan's alliance with Turkey — now a crucial economic partner for sanctions-hit Russia — adds another layer of complexity to the diplomatic tensions.
During their meeting Thursday at a summit of former Soviet nations in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, both leaders signaled a desire to repair the relationship. Putin expressed hope that their cooperation would "not only be restored, but continue in the spirit of our relations, the spirit of our alliance."
Aliyev voiced optimism about their "broad and positive" bilateral agenda, hoping "the messages we are sending today to our societies will meet a positive response."
