Russian leader Vladimir Putin told his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Saturday that Russian air defence was active when an Azerbaijani Airlines plane tried to land in Grozny before it crashed,

Russia has published a festive video of Santa Claus becoming a victim of Russian air defence against the backdrop of the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Grozny, with growing evidence pointing to Russian air defence as the cause.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has told his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev that Russian air defence was active when an Azerbaijani Airlines plane tried to land in Grozny before it crashed, the Kremlin said.

MOSCOW: Russia's Vladimir Putin on Saturday (Dec 28) apologised to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, for a "tragic incident" which happened in Russian airspace involving an Azerbaijan Airline

Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane in Kazakhstan that resulted in 38 fatalities, according to the Kremlin.

Russian air defence may have downed Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people, US officials say - Russia has downplayed speculation that its military was behind the Azerbaijan Airlines cra

The White House said Friday there were "early indications" that Russian air defenses downed an Azerbaijan Airlines flight in Kazakhstan.

An Azerbaijan Airlines statement on Dec. 27 blamed “interference” for the Christmas Day plane crash that killed 38 people.

U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have said weapons fire may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people

The Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed experienced "external physical and technical interference," the airline says.

The Kremlin has refused to comment, but Russia's civil aviation agency said the situation in Chechnya was "very complicated" at the time.