Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly admitted for the first time that Russian air defences shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in December 2024, killing 38 people. Speaking in Dushanbe during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Putin pledged compensation for the victims’ families.
The Embraer E190AR registered 4K-AZ65 was flying from Baku to Grozny when it was struck by a Russian Pantsir-S missile over Aktau, Kazakhstan, on 25 December 2024. 29 people survived, credited to the pilots’ efforts, who were among the dead.
Azerbaijani officials had long asserted that Russian forces fired the missile during nearby drone operations over Chechnya. Reports indicate the aircraft’s GPS was jammed and that it was denied permission to land in Russia after being hit.
Putin’s admission follows months of tension: Aliyev had accused Moscow of trying to “hush up” the incident and announced plans in July 2025 to pursue legal action in international courts.
The confession marks a significant shift, as Putin had previously called the tragedy a “tragic incident” without acknowledging direct responsibility.