10 Months Later, Russia Admits Deadly Downing of Azerbaijani Plane
10 Months Later, Russia Admits Deadly Downing of Azerbaijani Plane
President Vladimir Putin’s rare acknowledgment of a Russian military mistake came as relations have deteriorated between the two former Soviet states.
Read the full article on NY Times World
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article's core claim about Russia admitting to the downing of an Azerbaijani plane is supported by multiple sources, but the timeline presented in the NY Times article (October 2025) is inaccurate based on the provided sources, which indicate the event and initial reports occurred in December 2024. The article also frames the event within deteriorating relations, which could be seen as a slightly biased angle. The article's claim of a 'rare acknowledgment' is difficult to verify without broader context of Russian admissions of military errors.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: Russia admits to the deadly downing of an Azerbaijani plane.
- Verification Source #2: CNN reports that Putin apologized over the Azerbaijan Airlines crash and admitted that Russian air defenses were involved.
- Verification Source #3: Reuters reports that sources say a Russian air-defense system downed the Azerbaijan plane.
- Verification Source #4: AP News reports that Putin apologized to the Azerbaijani leader for a 'tragic incident' following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane.
- Assessment: Supported by multiple sources.
- Claim: The admission occurred 10 months after the event (implying the event happened earlier).
- Verification Source #1: CNN reported on December 27, 2024, that early indications suggest a Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet.
- Verification Source #2: CNN reported on December 28, 2024, that Putin apologized for the incident.
- Verification Source #3: Reuters reported on December 26, 2024, that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was downed by a Russian air defense system.
- Verification Source #4: AP News reported on December 28, 2024, that Putin apologized for the crash.
- Assessment: Contradicted. The sources indicate the event and initial reports occurred in December 2024, not 10 months prior to October 2025.
- Claim: President Vladimir Putin’s rare acknowledgment of a Russian military mistake came as relations have deteriorated between the two former Soviet states.
- Verification Source #5: The Moscow Times reported on December 30, 2024, that Azerbaijan demanded Russia admit to firing on the plane.
- Assessment: Partially supported. The claim about deteriorating relations is plausible given the context of the incident and Azerbaijan's demand for admission, but the 'rare acknowledgment' aspect is difficult to verify definitively without broader historical context. The sources confirm the demand for admission and the event itself, suggesting strained relations.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- CNN (Source 2): Putin apologizes over Azerbaijan Airlines crash as he admits ... Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed the passenger jet.
- Reuters (Source 3): Azerbaijan Airlines flight was downed by Russian air-defence system, four sources say...
- The NY Times article is dated October 9, 2025, while the event and initial reports are dated December 2024 in the verification sources.