The Investigation Must Identify the Perpetrators of the Tragedy in Aktau

Ambassador of Ukraine to Azerbaijan, Yuriy Husyev

A tragedy occurred on December 25, 2024 shook the entire world. An Azerbaijan Airlines plane, operating the Baku-Grozny route, crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. There were 67 people aboard the Embraer E190, of whom 29 survived thanks to the professional actions of the crew, including two children.

Today, a day of mourning has been declared in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Embassy of Ukraine joins the condolences already expressed by numerous diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan, including the embassies of the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Türkiye, Belgium, Lithuania, Israel, Hungary, and others.

This is a great tragedy for the entire Azerbaijani people, causing pain and sorrow far beyond the region. One version of the events, which is gaining more confirmation in the media, is actively being discussed worldwide. Preliminary data suggests that the plane may have been hit by a Russian "Pantsir-S1" air defense system, as confirmed by numerous photos and videos of the plane’s wreckage from the crash site. This could have affected the flight path and ultimately led to the devastating consequences.

If this version is confirmed, it will serve as yet another damning piece of evidence of Russia's terrorist activities as an aggressor state on the international stage.

Russia has long established itself as a terrorist state. We remember the tragedy involving the plane of Polish President Lech Kaczyński in Smolensk in 2010, the causes of which remain unclear. In 2014, the world was shocked by the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by a Russian "Buk" missile over the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. That incident claimed the lives of 298 innocent people. Since Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which was a continuation of Russia's aggression against our country that began in 2014, Russia has been attacking peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, deliberately killing civilians, including women and children, and attempting to plunge our people into darkness and cold by destroying our energy systems. This state and its regime consistently show contempt for human lives and international law.

The international community must unite even more and intensify collective efforts to stop Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and force Russia to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, establish a long-lasting just peace, and ensure security for the region and the planet as a whole, making further tragedies impossible.

The world is closely watching the work of the commission formed to investigate the plane crash in Kazakhstan. We urge all those involved in the investigation to act with the utmost courage, impartiality, and determination. Identifying those responsible for this tragedy is not only a matter of justice for the families of the victims, but also a duty to future generations. Only clear and consistent accountability for such actions can prevent similar tragedies in the future.

We express our support to the leadership and people of Azerbaijan and hope that all the circumstances of this tragedy will be determined and the guilty parties will be held accountable. This is important not only for restoring justice but also for strengthening global security.