SENSATION! The moment of the Russian Ministry of Defense's order to destroy an AZAL aircraft has been published

The editorial office of Minval.az received an anonymous letter with sensational materials about the AZAL Embraer E190 aircraft shot down on December 25, 2024, on approach to Grozny.

The letter contains an explanatory note from an air defense captain, claiming that fire on the aircraft was opened by order of the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as video, audio recordings, and details about the improper condition of equipment.

"Regarding the questions asked of me, I, Captain Paladichuk Dmitry Sergeevich, can explain the following: I am the commander of combat vehicle No. 274, head of the crew, and was on combat duty covering Grozny from 12/24/24 to 12/25/24. At 05:40 on 12/25/24, an order was received to transition to readiness No. 1. At 05:48, I reported the transition to readiness No. 1 via cellular communication. The cellular connection at the position was unstable, and I had no other reliable means of communication. Fiber optic cables were laid but not connected to the terminal, and there was no digital telephone with a dial pad. At 08:11, a potential target was identified by the target detection station, which I took for precise tracking by MRLS, which I reported to the command post of the 51st division. At 08:13, I reported updated coordinates: α = 338 degrees, D = 7,000 m, H = 490 m, V = 118 m/s, heading 230 degrees. I was ordered by phone to destroy the target. The target was not visible through optics due to very dense fog, which was reported to the command post. At 08 hours 13 minutes 30 seconds, I gave the command to engage to the operator. At 08 hours 13 minutes 33 seconds, the missile left the launcher. At 08 hours 13 minutes 47 seconds, the BM-72V6 digital computing system reported that the target was missed. At 08 hours 13 minutes 48 seconds, I gave the command for a repeated attack. According to MRLS data, the first missile was launched when the target had the following coordinates: α = 319 degrees, D = 7,300 m, H = 697 m, V = 80 m/s. The second missile was launched when the target had the following characteristics: α = 311 degrees, D = 8,000 m, H = 1,300 m, V = 120 m/s," the explanation states.

"We do not claim the authenticity of this letter, despite it being supported by the captain's signature. However, the very fact of its existence, as well as the significance of this document both for the investigation, which has been ongoing for six months, and for society, compels us to publish it. Moreover, the data received may serve as useful information for the competent authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.

The audio recording of three voice messages confirming the content of the letter can quite reasonably be called real. We cannot, understandably, provide a full transcript of the conversations - they still need to be studied by investigative authorities. However, we note that all three voices claimed that they gave an operational command, fired twice, and that fragments from the missile's dispersion hit the aircraft.

Of course, this information requires careful analysis, and the relevant structures will not miss this opportunity," the publication states.