Leaked Audio: Russian Missiles Took Down Passenger Plane

An Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on December 25, 2024, may have been deliberately shot down.

This claim comes after Azerbaijani journalists released leaked audio recordings and documents that suggest Russian air defense forces were ordered to fire on the aircraft.

The new evidence was sent anonymously to the newsroom of Minval Politika and includes a statement reportedly written by a Russian officer, along with voice messages and video files that support the claim.

“Destroy the Target”

According to Hromadske, the letter was signed by a man identifying himself as Captain Dmytro Paladichuk, a Russian air defense officer. He describes reporting the plane’s position and receiving an order to shoot it down.

“I was given the order by phone to destroy the target,” he wrote, noting that the aircraft could not be seen clearly due to thick fog.

Despite this, the order was carried out.

The voice recordings that came with the letter appear to confirm the action. In the recordings, three people admit to giving the order and firing two missiles.

One missile reportedly hit the aircraft, causing it to crash.

What Happened to Flight 8243?

Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was flying from Baku to Grozny, Russia.

The plane, an Embraer 190, had trouble navigating due to reported GPS jamming over Russian airspace. After failing to land in Grozny, the crew turned toward Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Tragically, the aircraft crashed during its emergency landing attempt.

Out of the 67 people on board, 38 were killed. It remains one of the most serious air disasters in the region in recent years.

Investigation Continues

Azerbaijan has demanded answers and is calling for an independent investigation.

Russia has not yet responded in detail to the new claims. Kremlin officials have said it’s too soon to make conclusions before official results are released.

International pressure is growing for a full inquiry.

If the recordings are proven real, the incident would mark a serious escalation in regional tensions and could have long-term effects on aviation safety and political relations.

It is still unclear why the plane was targeted, if it was mistaken for a threat, or if there was another reason behind the reported missile strike.

Experts say that even during times of high military alert, civilian aircraft are clearly marked and should not be targeted.