In an incident with dark echoes of the Cold War, a civilian airliner was downed by military fire, sparking a diplomatic crisis between two former Soviet states. President Vladimir Putin’s admission of Russia’s role in the 2024 crash has only intensified the geopolitical tensions.
Putin confirmed that Russian missiles, part of an air defense operation, were responsible for the destruction of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet and the deaths of 38 people. The explanation—that they were targeting enemy drones—has done little to quell the controversy.
The downing of a civilian plane by a world power brings back memories of infamous incidents like the shooting down of Korean Air Lines Flight 007. It raises profound questions about military protocols, airspace safety, and the protection of innocent lives during times of conflict.
The situation is further complicated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s accusation of a cover-up. This charge adds a layer of deliberate obfuscation to the tragedy, deepening the sense of a Cold War-style political standoff.
Putin’s promise of compensation and a legal review is a modern attempt to resolve a crisis that feels rooted in a past era of superpower impunity. The outcome will be a measure of whether international norms have truly evolved since the darkest days of the 20th century.
