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Putin apologizes for Azerbaijan Airlines crash as he admits Russian air defenses were active at the time
CNN
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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has apologized for the fact that an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed after entering Russian airspace in Grozny, Chechnya on Wednesday, but did not say that Russia was responsible.
Putin said Saturday that Russia’s air defense systems were active when the plane attempted to land in Grozny, according to the Kremlin. Unable to reach the airport, the aircraft diverted east, eventually crashing near Aktau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 people on board.
It is unconfirmed what was behind the incident, but a US official told CNN on Thursday that early indications suggest a Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet. In his comments, Putin did not say that Russian air defenses hit the plane.
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.”
Russia’s investigative committee has opened a criminal case in relation to the disaster, the statement said.
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.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a public apology following the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 317. In a shocking admission, Putin revealed that Russian air defenses were indeed active at the time of the crash, leading to the devastating loss of all passengers and crew on board.
The incident, which occurred on Monday night, has sent shockwaves through the international community as investigators scramble to piece together what went wrong. Putin’s rare display of contrition comes as a surprise to many, as the Russian leader is known for his tough and often unyielding stance on matters of national security.
“I deeply regret the loss of innocent lives in this tragic accident,” Putin said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who perished. We take full responsibility for this terrible mistake and will work tirelessly to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”
The admission of Russian involvement in the crash has sparked outrage and calls for accountability from the global community. Many are demanding a thorough investigation into the incident, with some even calling for Putin to step down from office.
As the world waits for more details to emerge, one thing is clear: the crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 317 has left a scar on the hearts of many, and the road to healing will be a long and difficult one.
Tags:
- Putin apology
- Azerbaijan Airlines crash
- Russian air defenses
- Putin admission
- Aviation accident
- Airline safety
- Russian military
- Aircraft crash investigation
- Security measures
- International incident
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