Russian captain explained why he ordered to fire at the AZAL plane

In an analytical article published on July 1 by the Azerbaijani publication Minval, the sensational explanatory letter of the Russian air defense captain Dmitry Paladichuk caused wide discussion, reports minval.az. In this document, he described in detail how he gave the order to fire at the Embraer 190 flight of Azerbaijan Airlines approaching Grozny on December 25, 2024.

According to the source, the editorial office received not only the explanatory note but also video and audio materials recorded on board the aircraft at the time of the incident. According to the contents of the letter, Paladichuk stated that under foggy and uncertain weather conditions, a “potential target” was detected, and he informed the command post of the 51st division about the height and speed of the object.

According to Paladichuk, he received an order by phone from the higher command to destroy the plane, after which he gave the operator the command to open fire. The first missile missed the target, so he gave a repeat order to fire again. Throughout the process, the captain coordinated his actions with the command post.

The Insider publication also verified this sensational material through independent sources and confirmed that Dmitry Paladichuk had indeed served in various units of the Russian air defense, including the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army in Novosibirsk. Journalists contacted the captain by phone, and he personally confirmed the authenticity of the explanatory letter submitted to the editorial office. Some spelling features were also noted as characteristic of Paladichuk.

Currently, this incident is causing international disputes and discussions. The Russian and Azerbaijani authorities have not yet given official comments, but the event is widely discussed on the Internet and in the media. From the point of view of international law and aviation safety, such incidents require serious solutions and analysis.

Final decisions and conclusions may be announced by official authorities and international organizations in the near future. For now, Paladichuk’s explanatory letter and related materials raise serious questions about safety and responsibility in the field of aviation. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!