MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin on Thursday admitted that Russian air defenses were responsible for downing an Azerbaijani passenger jet last December, killing 38 people, his first public acknowledgment of Russia’s role in the tragedy, in an effort to ease tensions with Azerbaijan.

Speaking in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, after meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of a summit of former Soviet nations, Putin said that missiles fired at a Ukrainian drone exploded near the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, which was flying from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya region, on Dec. 25, 2024.

“The Russian side will obviously do everything to provide compensation and give legal assessment to all responsible officials’ actions,” Putin said.

He added that the missiles detonated just 10 meters (33 feet) from the aircraft due to what he described as a technical malfunction.

“Of course, these words related to this tragedy, aimed at morally supporting the families, do not solve the main problem: we can’t bring back to life those who died,” Putin said.

“But I hope that our cooperation will not only be restored but will continue in the spirit of our alliance.”

Azerbaijani authorities had earlier reported that the plane was hit accidentally by Russian fire while approaching Grozny and later crashed in western Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people onboard.

Following the crash, Putin had apologized to Aliyev and called it a “tragic incident” but had stopped short of admitting responsibility.

Aliyev at the time criticized Moscow for attempting to “hush up” the incident, which strained the two countries’ previously close relations.

Tensions were further inflamed after ethnic Azerbaijanis died in police custody in Russia in June, and several Russian nationals were arrested in Azerbaijan, deepening mutual mistrust.

On Thursday, Aliyev thanked Putin for taking personal control of the investigation and acknowledging Russia’s responsibility.

“I would like to thank you for keeping the situation under your personal control,” Aliyev said, adding that the two leaders had discussed a “broad and positive” bilateral agenda and expressing hope that their remarks “will meet a positive response” among both nations.

Putin’s remarks mark a rare admission of error by Moscow amid a series of military incidents linked to its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian drones have repeatedly penetrated deep into Russian airspace, prompting a tightening of air defense operations that have occasionally resulted in misfires near civilian areas. — Agencies