Putin Admits Russian Missiles Caused Azeri Jet Crash in December

President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that a Russian air defense system was responsible for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that killed 38 people in December, a rare admission that could ease almost yearlong tensions with Baku.

Putin told Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at talks in Tajikistan on Thursday that air defenses were tracking three Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace at the time. Debris from two missiles that exploded roughly 10 meters away from the jet could have damaged the plane, he said.

The Russian leader promised that Moscow would do everything to provide compensation to those affected by ...