Russia Accused of Downing Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Near Grozny

Russia has come under scrutiny following the deadly crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan, with allegations suggesting it may have been “accidentally” struck by a Russian air-defense missile system.

Rabat – Russia has come under scrutiny following the deadly crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan, with allegations suggesting it may have been “accidentally” struck by a Russian air-defense missile system.

The plane crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, tragically killing 38 of the 67 passengers on board. The Embraer 190 aircraft was traveling to Grozny, the capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya.

Officials confirmed that the passengers included 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhstani citizens, and three Kyrgyz citizens.

Surviving passengers reportedly heard an explosion as the plane neared Grozny, followed by shrapnel hitting the aircraft and damaging its fuselage.

This information, which Euronews said it obtained, aligns with a report from the Azerbaijan-based news channel AnewZ, which quoted a Russian military blogger. The blogger speculated that the plane may have been accidentally struck by a Russian air-defense missile system.

The Russian government has strongly advised against making assumptions about the cause of the crash. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Thursday that it would be “wrong” to speculate before the official investigation is complete.

The incident has raised questions due to Grozny’s heavy defenses. The city is considered a critical area in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, as it houses fighters loyal to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The defenses are intended to protect against potential drone attacks, making the area a hotspot for military activity.

Kazakhstan, where the crash occurred, has also urged caution. Ashimbayev Maulen, the chair of Kazakhstan’s senate, said that the investigation is ongoing and called the missile allegations “unethical” and “unfounded.”

“None of these countries – neither Azerbaijan, Russia nor Kazakhstan – is interested in hiding information. All information will be made available to the public,” Maulen added.

Meanwhile, some Azerbaijani officials and media outlets have pointed fingers at Russia. They maintain that the plane was brought down by a Russian air-defense system, citing unnamed sources involved in the investigation.