New document claims Russian military OK’d passenger plane downing

An Azerbaijani news site has released explosive new material, claiming the Russian military authorised the 2024 missile strike on Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243, a tragedy that left 38 people dead and 29 injured.

Minval reports that it received an anonymous message, accompanied by audio clips and technical data, which traces the incident back to Captain Dmitry Sergeyevich Paladichuk—a Russian air-defence officer allegedly acting under direct orders from Moscow’s Ministry of Defence.

However, Euronews said it was not independently able to verify the authenticity of the claims in the Azerbaijani news outlet’s report. However, on December 26th, 2024, Reuters reported four sources with knowledge of the preliminary investigation had confirmed that Russian air defences were responsible for downing the Azerbaijan plane.

Russian weapon used to strike the plane

One of the Azerbaijani sources familiar with Azerbaijan’s investigation into the crash told Reuters that preliminary results showed a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system struck the plane. Electronic warfare systems paralysed its communications on the approach into Grozny, the source told the British news agency.

Euronews reported that the letter in Minval’s possession claims Paladichuk was stationed near Grozny on the night of December 24–25, 2024, and that his unit was placed on full combat alert by 05:40. 

“Due to poor mobile reception and a lack of functional wired communication, coordination relied heavily on unstable mobile connections,” the letter reads.

“A potential target was detected at 08:11 and tracked using radar. Two missiles were reportedly fired at the object after Paladichuk was instructed via phone to destroy it, despite heavy fog obscuring optical confirmation,” according to the letter.

With radio wires down and mobile networks unreliable, coordination fell to unstable phone calls, placing the entire operation on precarious footing. According to the document, radar identified an unidentified aircraft at 08:11. 

Two missiles were fired at the plane

That prompted Paladichuk to strike. Two missiles were fired: the first missed; the second detonated brutally close, sending shrapnel into Flight 8243. 

Minval said it also reviewed three voice recordings that corroborate the account—voices giving orders in Russian, missile launch sounds, a declaration of “target missed,” and then another launch.

Official Azerbaijani sources informed Euronews that a Russian surface-to-air missile had hit the aircraft during drone activity over Grozny. Shrapnel tore into passengers and crew. 

Despite pilots’ pleas, Russian airports were denied landing permission, and the damaged plane was rerouted over the Caspian towards Aktau, Kazakhstan, where it tragically crashed.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaking on December 29, said Azerbaijan was “not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done.” He issued three demands to Russia: an apology, admission of guilt, and full accountability. 

“First, the Russian side must apologise to Azerbaijan. Second, it must admit its guilt. Third, punish the guilty, bring them to criminal responsibility and pay compensation to the Azerbaijani state, the injured passengers and crew members,” Aliyev outlined.

No apology from Putin

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an apology two days later, calling the crash a “tragic incident,” but did not accept responsibility for attacking the aeroplane, as reported by viraltrendingcontent.

In response, the Kremlin defended its military conduct, citing defensive actions against Ukrainian drone threats over Grozny.

Shortly after the tragedy, Russian military bloggers suggested the explosion occurred over Chechnya’s Naursky District—home to several air-defence units—based on open-source intelligence. 

Minval’s recent claims come amid intensified legal and political crises between Russia and Azerbaijan. As the two countries face the challenges and issues caused by their bilateral conflict, this new information threatens to increase their already fragile relationship.