According to the Azerbaijani media outlet Minval, the Embraer 190 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), which crashed near Aktau on December 24, 2024, was allegedly shot down on the orders of the Russian Defense Ministry. The outlet based its claim on an explanatory note from a Russian air defense officer, along with several voice messages.
A letter attributed to Russian Captain Dmitry Paladichuk states that he was on combat duty in Grozny from December 24 to 25, 2024, serving as the commander of an air defense combat unit. On December 25 at 5:40 a.m., he reportedly received an order to...