Budanov has spoken out for the first time regarding the plane crash in Kazakhstan.

A passenger aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines that crashed in Kazakhstan was shot down by a Russian air defense system. It was downed by the "Pantsir-S1" complex.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine, citing the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, in a comment to The War Zone.

"As far as we know, the plane was shot down by the Russian air defense system 'Pantsir-S1' on Russian territory," Budanov stated.

A U.S. representative also informed the publication that the Russian air defense system could have struck the aircraft.

Reuters, citing four sources familiar with the investigation, noted that the Embraer 190 aircraft of Azerbaijan Airlines came under fire after deviating from the area where Russia was actively using air defense against Ukrainian drones.

Plane Crash in Kazakhstan

On December 25, a passenger plane, the Embraer 190 of Azerbaijan Airlines, crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. There were 67 people on board, and the flight was operating from Baku to Grozny.

As a result of the crash, 38 people lost their lives, while the remaining passengers were injured, including children.

Reports indicate that in Grozny, where drones had previously been shot down, the Russian air defense hit the plane, preventing it from landing. According to media and analysts, the aircraft was struck by the "Pantsir" surface-to-air missile system. As reported by Euronews, a missile exploded near the aircraft, and its fragments struck passengers and crew members.

Azerbaijan has confirmed that a Russian missile was the cause of the plane's crash near Aktau. Reuters notes that Baku expects recognition from the Russian side regarding the downing of the Azerbaijani aircraft.

For more information on the plane crash in Kazakhstan and how Russia is downplaying the version involving the air defense system, see the material from RBK-Ukraine.