Putin apologise for Azerbaijan Airlines crash but no accept blame for di crash

Russia President Vladimir Putin don tok sorry to di president of neighbouring Azerbaijan ova one commercial airliner wey crash for Russian airspace, wey lead to di death of 38 pipo.

But e no claim say Russia dey responsible for di plane crash.

For im first comments on di Christmas day crash, Putin tok say di "tragic incident" bin occur wen Russian air defence systems bin actively dey stop Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky tok say Russia must "stop dey spread disinformation" about di strike.

Reports say di plane bin come under fire from Russian air defence systems as e try to land for Chechnya – wey force am to divert across di Caspian Sea.

Di Azerbaijan Airlines jet later crash-land near Aktau for Kazakhstan, killing 38 out of di 67 pipo on board.

Most of di passengers wey dey on di flight na from Azerbaijan, odas come from Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

E dey believed say most of those wey survive siddon for di plane rear.

Flight J2-8243 bin dey en route from di Azerbaijan capital of Baku and dey go Chechen capital of Grozny on 25 December wen e come under fire and bin dey forced to divert.

Di Kremlin for statement dem release on Saturday 28 December, tok say Putin don follow Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev tok on phone.

"(President) Vladimir Putin apologise for di tragic incident wey happun for Russian airspace and once again express im deep and sincere condolences to di families of di victims and wish speedy recovery to di injured," di statement tok.

For di rare publicised apology, Putin also acknowledge say di plane bin repeatedly try to land for Grozny airport for Chechnya.

At di time, Ukrainian drones bin dey attack Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz and Russian air defense systems dey prevent di attacks, Putin tok according to Kremlin statement.

Di Kremlin statement no make any direct admission say na Russian missiles bring down di plane.

Inside one statement wey Ukrainian President Zelensky release shortly afta Kremlin own, e say di damage to di aircraft fuselage show "very clearly air defence missile strike", and add say Russia "must provide clear explanations".

"Di key priority now na thorough investigation wey go ansa all di questions about wetin really happun."

Bifor Saturday, di Kremlin bin no gree tok if dem get hand for di crash, as authorities tok say dem dey wait for investigation results.

But Russian aviation authorities bin earlier for di week say di situation for di region dey "very complicated" sake of Ukrainian drone strikes.

Aviation experts plus odas for Azerbaijan believe say di plane GPS systems bin dey affected by electronic jamming and shrapnel from Russian air defence missile blasts later spoil am.

Survivors bin previously report say dem hear loud bangs bifor di plane crash, wey suggest say dem be target.

Azerbaijan neva officially accuse Russia but di kontri transport minister say di plane dey subject to "external interference" and damage inside and out as e try to land.

US defence officials on Friday also say dem believe say Russia dey responsible for di crash.

Moscow note say Russian investigators don launch criminal investigation. Azerbaijan don already announce say dem go launch investigation.

Di Kremlin say Azeri, Kazakh and Russian agencies dey "work closely for di site of di disaster for Aktau region".

Even bifor Putin message on Saturday, several airlines from Azerbijan don already begin suspend flights to most Russian cities.

Di suspension go remain until dem complete di investigation into di crash, one airline tok.