Russia has agreed to pay compensation to the relatives of those killed in the plane crash of an Embraer 190 aircraft belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) near the city of Aktau on December 25, 2024 as a result of the forced activation of the air defense system in Russian airspace. This was reported by the Azerbaijani edition Report, citing a joint statement by the foreign ministries of the two countries.
Agreements between Moscow and Baku
The statement notes that the issue of resolving the consequences of the tragedy, including the payment of compensation, was agreed upon during the meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 9, 2025.
The parties stated that these steps demonstrate the intention to develop cooperation and maintain bilateral relations.
Acknowledgement of the cause of the crash
After this meeting, Vladimir Putin admitted for the first time that the plane was hit by Russian air defense.
At the same time, he claimed that the fuselage was damaged not by a direct hit from a missile, but by debris after it exploded near the plane.
The Russian side also tried to partially shift responsibility, claiming the alleged presence of Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace at the time of the incident.
Circumstances surrounding the plane crash
The tragedy occurred on December 25, 2024. The AZAL plane of Azerbaijan Airlines was flying from Baku to Grozny, but after several changes in the route crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan.
The crash killed 38 people.
Initially, the Russian side stated that the cause of the incident could be a collision with birds. It was also reported that the plane changed its route due to weather conditions and was redirected to other airports.
Doubtful versions and new data
Later, these versions raised doubts. According to analysts, on the day of the crash, the "Kilim" regime was in effect in the area due to drone attacks, which could have affected the situation in the airspace.
Monitoring services have recorded distortions in the plane's flight data, which may indicate the use of electronic warfare.
Photos of the plane's wreckage with traces similar to damage from elements of anti-aircraft systems have also appeared on the network. Some experts associate them with the operation of the ''Pantsir'' anti-aircraft complex used by Russia.