In the wake of Vladimir Putin’s apology to Azerbaijan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that he had instructed Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Service (DIU) to share information about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane with its partners, and asked to put pressure on Russia to stop lying about it.

“I have no doubt that the whole truth about the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane can be proven, and that Russia will not be able to hide anything. Now there are already partners involved, whom Azerbaijan itself can trust first of all” noted.

Ukraine, the Ukrainian president assured, will provide all necessary assistance and we call on every country to support Azerbaijan in this situation. We also call on every country to put pressure on Russia to stop the lies about this crash – the same lies that were told about MH-17, about the Boeing (s.s. of Malaysian Airlines) that was shot down over the Donetsk region.

“In our conversation with President Aliyev, we recognized the heroism of the crew, who managed to guide the plane to the territory of Kazakhstan, saving 29 people. But unfortunately, there were many victims, and for all of them, there must be accountability – the accountability of those who shot down the plane, and those in Russia who made it possible: that the plane was targeted.”

“Today I received an intelligence report on what happened and the data we have at the moment. I have ordered that all events be communicated to our partners” Zelensky pointed out.

Initially, Russian media reported that the cause of the crash was the collision of the aircraft with a flock of birds. However, later, when footage from the scene of the tragedy was published, information emerged that the aircraft was shot down by Russian air defenses.

The head of the military intelligence service (GUR) Kirill Budanov, confirmed that the aircraft was shot down by a Pantsir S1 anti-aircraft system on Russian soil.

“Russia must provide clear explanations”

Earlier on Saturday, the president of Ukraine had a telephone conversation with the president of Azerbaijan, during which they discussed the crash of the Embraer plane of the Azerbaijan Airlines air transport.

Volodymyr Zelensky said that in communication with Aliyev he expressed his condolences for the plane that crashed in Kazakhstan.

“The main priority now it is a thorough investigation to answer all questions about what really happened. Russia must provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation.” Zelensky pointed out in a statement to X after the call.

“External physical and technical interference with the aircraft has been detected”

According to Baku, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev noted to Vladimir Putin that the passenger plane suffered “external physical and technical intervention” while in Russian airspace and completely lost control, diverted to the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, and was able to make an emergency landing only thanks to the bravery and professionalism of the pilots.