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Putin apologises to Azerbaijan without claiming responsibility in plane crash

Airport ground staff and medics assist Azerbaijani citizens, who survived the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines upon arrival at Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport on December 26, 2024.[Photo, AFP]

Vladimir Putin admitted Saturday Russian air defence was working when an Azerbaijani Airlines plane tried to land in Grozny before crashing, while stopping short of claiming responsibility.

The Kremlin said Putin apologised to Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev over the "tragic incident" in a phone call, but did not say Russian air defence shot the plane.

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