Putin Admits Russian Air Defence Likely Damaged AZAL Plane

DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN – 9 October 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 8th and 9th. President Putin opened the discussion by addressing the December 2024 crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) aircraft, conceding that it was likely damaged by Russian air defence operations.

During the meeting, Putin stated that the crash resulted from a combination of factors. He explained that Russia’s air defence forces were tracking three Ukrainian drones that crossed the Russian border the night the tragedy occurred. The defense forces launched two missiles, which did not directly strike the AZAL aircraft but detonated "a few meters away". Putin suggested the aircraft was damaged by shrapnel fragments rather than a direct shell hit. A secondary factor contributing to the crash, according to the Russian President, was technical malfunctions within the Russian air defence system itself.

The AZAL passenger plane, which was flying from Baku to Grozny, crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on December 25, 2024. Of the 67 people aboard, 38 perished, while 29 survived. Putin noted that the crew had been offered an opportunity to land in Makhachkala but opted to return to their base, the main airport.

Response and Relations

Putin assured President Aliyev that Russia would provide "all necessary steps," including compensation, in response to the tragic incident, and that the actions of all responsible officials would be given a legal assessment. Putin also noted that he had apologised during an earlier phone call following the tragedy, simply because the incident occurred in Russian airspace.

President Aliyev thanked Putin for personally overseeing the situation and the investigation. He expressed his gratitude for Putin making it a necessary point to clarify the issue during their meeting, stating there was no doubt that the investigation would be objective due to the Russian President’s personal oversight.

Despite the recent difficulties and preceding tensions between Moscow and Baku—including the air crash and incidents involving ethnic Azerbaijanis and Russian citizens—President Putin expressed his hope that cooperation would not merely be restored but would continue "in the spirit of alliance". Both leaders highlighted the successful development of economic relations, noting that trade turnover had increased by over 16% this year.