Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Saturday that Russia’s air defense systems were active when Azerbaijan Airlines flight J2-8243 attempted to land in Grozny, Chechnya on Wednesday.

A White House official said the US has seen "early indications" that the fatal crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane was caused by a Russian air defense system. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that the US has "seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems.

Shootdown of Azeri passenger plane reflects Russian jumpiness. This image from video released by Kazakhstan Emergency Ministry Press Service on December 27, 2024, shows the crash landing of the Azerbaijan Airlines' Embraer 190 near the airport of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP

Russian missile defense systems were depicted shooting down Santa as he flew through the sky on a sleigh in a new viral short.

Russia has published a festive video of Santa Claus becoming a victim of Russian air defence against the backdrop of the tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in Grozny, with growing evidence pointing to Russian air defence as the cause.