Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight that occurred after it entered Russian airspace over Grozny, Chechnya, on Wednesday. However, he did not acknowledge any responsibility on Russia’s part.
Speaking on Saturday, Putin confirmed that Russia’s air defense systems were active when the plane attempted to land in Grozny.
According to the Kremlin, when the aircraft was unable to reach the airport, it diverted eastward and eventually crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, claiming the lives of 38 people.
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While the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, a US official told CNN on Thursday that initial indications point to a possible Russian anti-aircraft system being involved in downing the passenger jet.
However, Putin did not state that Russian air defenses were responsible for the crash.
Putin “apologized for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace” in a phone call with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, the Kremlin said in a statement.
The Kremlin said that the plane “repeatedly attempted to land at the airport in Grozny” but at the same time, the areas of “Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were attacked by Ukrainian combat drones, and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks.”
The statement said that Russia’s investigative committee has initiated a criminal case in connection with the disaster.
In a statement on Friday, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said Russian media has “lied about the cause of the crash,” adding that Moscow “forced the damaged jet to cross the sea, most likely in an attempt to conceal evidence of their crime.”
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