Ukraine Official Accuses Russia in Deadly Kazakhstan Plane Crash
A high-ranking Ukrainian official is pointing fingers at Russia for the deadly crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of 38 of the 67 people on board. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Combating disinformation of Ukraine’s National Security and defense Council, alleges that Russian air defenses were responsible for downing the aircraft.
Kovalenko,in a Telegram post,stated,”The explosion of an air defense missile damaged the plane and disabled its systems.” He refuted initial reports attributing the damage to bird strikes, asserting that the holes in the plane’s fuselage were consistent with shrapnel. He further claimed, “The plane was damaged by the Russians and sent to Kazakhstan, rather of making an emergency landing in Grozny and saving lives.”
Kovalenko highlighted the simultaneous Ukrainian drone attack on Grozny, suggesting a critical context. he added,”Russia had to close the airspace over Grozny,but it didn’t,” implying a intentional failure to protect the civilian aircraft amidst the ongoing conflict. This aligns with a statement from Jamzat Kadirov, secretary of the Chechen Security Council, who reported on Wednesday, “Everything that flew was shot down” during the drone attack.
Kovalenko credited the pilots’ skill for preventing what he described as a potential “Russian provocation against Ukraine,” warning that Russia would likely attempt to conceal its role in the disaster. He stated that russia “will do everything possible to hide its own responsibility for the plane crash and the deaths of people.”
The Kremlin, however, is urging caution. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, responded to the allegations by stating, “It would be a mistake to formulate hypotheses before the conclusions of the investigation. We, of course, will not do it and no one should. We have to ‘wait until the investigation is over.'”
The crash occurred Wednesday morning near Aktau, Kazakhstan, after the plane failed to reach its intended destination in Grozny, Chechnya.The incident has sparked considerable debate, with several pro-war Russian military bloggers echoing Kovalenko’s assertion that Russian air defenses may have been involved.
The incident raises serious questions about air safety and accountability during times of conflict, particularly given the proximity of the plane crash to the ongoing hostilities in the region. The international community awaits the results of the official investigation to determine the exact cause of the tragedy and hold those responsible accountable.
# Azerbaijan airlines Crash: Was It a Tragic Accident or Russian Foul Play?
A deadly plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan, involving Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 190, has sparked controversy and ignited accusations of russian culpability. Senior Editor of world-today-news.com, Sarah Jones, sat down wiht former military intelligence analyst and aviation security expert, Dr. Emily Carter, to discuss the unfolding situation.
Interview
“Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us. The crash is a devastating loss of life. What are your initial thoughts on this incident, particularly as Ukraine has made serious allegations?”
“sarah, it’s a truly tragic event, and my heart goes out to the victims and their families. Right now, concrete information is scarce. While initial reports suggested a bird strike, the Ukrainian government has put forward compelling, albeit unverified, claims that a Russian air defence missile could be responsible. This is a serious accusation, one that requires thorough investigation and evidence-based analysis. “
“You mentioned unverified claims. Can we delve into those specifically? What kind of evidence would support or refute Ukraine’s assertions?”
“Certainly. Firstly, you have the placement of the damage to the aircraft. Ukraine claims the holes in the fuselage are consistent with shrapnel, which would align with an air defense missile strike. Independent forensic analysis of the wreckage will be crucial in determining this. Secondly, the context is significant. We no a concurrent Ukrainian drone attack on Grozny was taking place. This raises questions about possible accidental fire or whether Russian air defenses were activated and misidentified the civilian aircraft as a threat.
Perhaps, “black box” flight recorder data could provide valuable insights into what happened in the cockpit in those critical moments. “
“The Kremlin has called for caution and urged everyone to wait for the investigation’s results. Do you think that’s a reasonable approach, given the gravity of the accusations? “
“Absolutely. Premature accusations without evidence can be damaging and hinder the investigation process. However, given the fraught geopolitical context, international scrutiny is warranted. transparency and a thorough,independent investigation are paramount to getting to the truth of this tragic event.”
“Dr. Carter, thank you for sharing your insights with us. This is a developing story, and we will continue to report on any new developments.”
