Putin sorry over Azerbaijan Airlines crash but does not accept blame

Russia's leader apologises over the downing of an Azerbaijani plane in Russian airspace - without directly taking blame.

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In his first comments on the Christmas Day crash, Putin said the "tragic incident" had occurred when Russian air defence systems were repelling Ukrainian drones.

Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky said Russia must "stop spreading disinformation" about the strike.

The plane is believed to have come under fire from Russian air defence as it tried to land in the Russian region of Chechnya - forcing it to divert across the Caspian Sea.

The Azerbaijan Airlines jet then crash-landed near Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 on board.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx8l1533j5o

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