A few hours ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly admitted that Russian air defenses were responsible for the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in December 2024, which left around 38 people dead.
During a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Putin explained that two missiles fired to intercept Ukrainian drones detonated near the aircraft, not by direct impact, but due to fragments exploding about 10 meters away. He described the incident as the result of a technical failure in the air defense system.
The Russian leader pledged to compensate the victims’ families and hold those responsible accountable. Azerbaijani authorities had been demanding a public acknowledgment and transparency over the tragic event.
¿Could this admission lead to sanctions or legal action against Russia?
It’s possible. With this official acknowledgment, affected nations could seek compensation, push for bilateral treaty reviews, and promote international investigations to determine accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
