Ukraine-Russia war latest: Azerbaijan plane hit by shooting from Russia before crash, country’s president says
The UK has called for an independent investigation into the downing of an Azerbaijani plane thought to have been caused by a Russian missile
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Azerbaijani President has said that the passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan killing 38 people had been damaged due to shooting from the ground in Russia.
Ilham Aliyev said he regretted that “some circles” in Russia had tried to hush up the truth about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines planes by sowing false narratives about the causes of the crash.
On Saturday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he was sorry “for the fact that the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace” but stopped short of admitting Russian responsibility for the crash, which killed 38 people.
Flight J2-8243 crashed on Wednesday in a ball of fire near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia where Ukrainian drones were reported to be attacking several cities. At least 38 people were killed while 29 survived.
Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Russia to provide clear explanations posting on X: “The key priority now is a thorough investigation to provide answers to all questions about what really happened.
“Russia must provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation.”
Putin apologises for ‘tragic’ Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash but does not take responsibility
Russia claims it foiled several Ukrainian plots to kill senior officers with disguised bombs
Azerbaijan Airlines crash: was this another military shoot-down of a civil aircraft?
Zelensky urges China to put pressure on North Korea over military aid to Russia
Kremlin stops short of saying they brought down plane
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Sunday that Putin had spoken to Aliyev over the phone again, but did not provide details of the conversation.
An official Kremlin statement issued Saturday said that air defence systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner “repeatedly” attempted to land there on Wednesday, but did not explicitly say if one of them brought the plane down.
According to a readout of the call provided by Aliyev’s press office, the Azerbaijani leader Aliyev told Putin that the plane was subjected to “external physical and technical interference,” although he also stopped short of explicitly blaming Russian air defences.
Aliyev noted that the plane had multiple holes in its fuselage and that the occupants had sustained injuries “due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight.”
Crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane was shot down by Russia, says country’s president
Crashed Azerbaijan Airlines plane was shot down by Russia, says country’s president
The Azerbaijan president said Vladimir Putin had apologised to him over the air crash which killed 38
In pictures: People mourn victims of Azerbaijani air disaster
Ukrainian forces film themselves setting fire to Russian infrastructure
A fire in Russia’s Yaroslavl region destroyed three railway relay cabinets essential for traffic control, while cellular communications equipment in the Leningrad region also sustained damage, Ukraine has said.
Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate released footage of soldiers starting the blaze on Facebook.
They added: “In the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, four objects with telecommunication equipment of the illegal communication operator ‘Phoenix’ used by Russia were destroyed.
“The fire also flooded the equipment for counter-communication in the territory of the Leningrad Oblast of Russia, and moreover ― destroyed three railway relay cabinets of railway traffic control in the Yaroslavl region of the aggressor state.”
Hero pilots lauded for saving lives in Azerbaijan Airlines disaster
Azerbaijan paid tribute to the pilots and passengers of the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan killing 38 people after Russian air defences were used against Ukrainian drones.
Captain Igor Kshnyakin and co-pilot Alexander Kalyaninov, both ethnic Russians with Azerbaijan citizenship, and Hokuma Aliyeva, a flight attendant, were given full honours at a ceremony at the Alley of Honour in central Baku attended by President Ilham Aliyev and his wife, Mehriban.
The pilots have been lauded in Azerbaijan for landing in a way which allowed 29 people to survive but led to their own deaths.
“Only through the courage and professionalism of the pilots was an emergency landing successfully carried out,” Azerbaijan’s presidential office said.
Captain Kshnyakin’s daughter, Anastasia said:“My father always said: when I take off, I am responsible not only for my life, but also for the lives of all passengers and crew members,” Kshnyakina said.
“With his last flight, he proved what a true hero should be.”
UK gives Ukraine £4.5m to help Ukraine get justice for war crimes
Britain has announced it is giving £4.5m to aid Ukraine’s efforts in seeking justice for war crimes committed during Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The funding is designed to support Ukraine’s documentation, investigation and prosecution of war crimes, and complements the UK’s work with US and EU partners via the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group.
The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: “While in Kyiv, I saw first-hand the inspirational bravery of the Ukrainian people. I’m immensely proud of the support this government is providing them as they resist Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.
“The atrocities we have witnessed in Ukraine are unspeakable - there can be no lasting peace without accountability, and UK support will help Ukraine as it pursues justice for the victims and survivors of these crimes.
“As we look ahead to 2025, our message is clear: we will stand with you in war, we will stand with you in peace, and we will stand with you as you fight for your security and that of all of Europe.”
Azerbaijan's president says plane that crashed was shot at from Russia
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday that the passenger plane that crashed in Kazakhstan killing 38 people had been damaged due to shooting from the ground in Russia, Azerbaijan state television reported.
Aliyev said he regretted that “some circles” in Russia had tried to hush up the truth about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines planes by sowing false narratives about the causes of the crash.
On Saturday, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin apologised to Aliyev for what the Kremlin called a “tragic incident” over Russia in which the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed after Russian air defences were fired against Ukrainian drones.
Firefighters come under enemy shelling as they attempt to tackle
Rescue teams in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region came under repeated shelling from Russian forces on Sunday while responding to a fire in a residential area of Pokrovsk.
“Earlier [on Sunday], Russian forces targeted a private residential area in the city, striking a residential building. The impact sparked a fire that spread across approximately 120 square meters, which rescuers managed to contain,” Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.
“However, due to repeated hostile fire and a threat to the lives of personnel, the fire extinguishing had to be suspended.
“Fortunately, there were no victims.”
Russia will abandon its unilateral missile moratorium, Lavrov says
Russia will scrap a moratorium on the deployment of intermediate and shorter range nuclear-capable missiles because the United States has deployed such weapons in various regions around the world, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday.
Russia’s move, long signalled, will kill off all that remains from one of the most significant arms control treaties of the Cold War, amid fears that the world’s two biggest nuclear powers could be entering a new arms race together with China.
Asked by state news agency RIA if Russia could withdraw from the New START treaty before its expiry in February 2026, Lavrov said that there were currently “no conditions” for a strategic dialogue with Washington.
“Today it is clear that, for example, our moratorium on the deployment of short- and intermediate-range missiles is no longer practically viable and will have to be abandoned,” Lavrov said.
“The U.S. has arrogantly ignored the warnings of Russia and China and in practice has moved on to the deployment of weapons of this class in various regions of the world.”
US Teacher ‘wrongfully detained in Moscow’
Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, is serving a 14-year prison sentence after his arrest in August 2021 at a Russian airport for being in possession of drugs, which his family and supporters said were medically prescribed marijuana.
He was left out of a prisoner swap that freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and corporate security executive Paul Whelan in August.
“The United States has been working to secure Marc Fogel’s release for some time,” the State Department said in a statement.
“We have long called for his humanitarian release and tried to include him in the August 1 deal, but were unable to.
“The Secretary determined Marc is wrongfully detained in October.”
Fogel’s wife, Jane, and his sons, Ethan and Sam, said in a statement they were grateful that the State Department “has finally acknowledged what we have known all along — that our husband and father, Marc Fogel, has and continues to be wrongfully detained.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments