Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged for the first time that two Russian missiles caused the fatal crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet in December 2023, during a phone call with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev on October 9. The admission comes nearly a year after Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243 crash-landed in Kazakhstan, killing all 38 people aboard.
Putin attributed the incident to "emergency missile detonations" triggered by Ukrainian drones entering Russian airspace near the flight path. The aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, had diverted toward Aktau amid reported cross-border security concerns. The Russian leader offered renewed apologies and pledged compensation to victims' families, marking a significant development in a case that strained Moscow-Baku relations.
Analysts suggest the delayed admission reflects shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Caucasus region, where Azerbaijan maintains strategic partnerships with both Russia and Türkiye. The incident highlights growing aviation safety challenges in conflict-adjacent airspaces, with implications for regional travel routes and international air traffic coordination.
