Dmitrij Paladjučuk

Dmitrij Paladjučuk is a Russian military officer who recently gained notoriety for claiming responsibility for mistakenly shooting down an Azerbaijani passenger plane in December 2023. Identified as a captain in Russia's air defense forces, Paladjučuk revealed in an audio statement that he received orders to engage what was believed to be a drone, resulting in the tragic loss of 38 lives. His admissions have sparked significant diplomatic tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan, as officials from both countries engage in a contentious blame game following the incident.