Despite the fact that many months have passed since the tragedy, Russia stubbornly refuses to admit guilt for the downed AZAL plane. Those responsible for this catastrophe have not yet been punished: they continue to serve, and some have even received promotions.
According to Minval Politika, the missile was launched under the direct authorisation of Major General Alexander Tolopilo - commander of the 51st Air Defence Division of the Russian Aerospace Forces, with his subordinates Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Orlyansky, Captain Dmitry Paladichuk, Captain Dmitry Pudovkin, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Yanovsky, and Colonel Gennady Eremenko all playing key roles.
As a result of the attack, the airliner was forced to make an emergency landing in Aktau. 38 people out of 67 on board were killed.
According to Minval Politika, the 'Pantsir' crew was technically and organisationally unprepared, preventing them from recognising the civilian aircraft in time. Despite this failure, Tolopilo faced no consequences and was instead promoted, becoming deputy commander of the 11th Guards Army of the Air Force and Air Defence in the Eastern Military District.
Yet Tolopilo's record is far from spotless. His service history contains incidents that could be considered official misconduct, but none were punished.
One of the most notable occurred on 8 June, 2024, when, due to the negligence of Tolopilo and his subordinates in the 51st Air Defense Division, a Su-57 fighter jet, one of Russia's most expensive and prestigious aircraft was damaged during a Ukrainian drone attack.
In addition, civilian personnel were injured at the airfield of the 929th Chkalov State Flight Test Center in the Akhtubinsky district of the Astrakhan region.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fight...
Police were deployed across Paris on Saturday, as a curfew was set to take effect in the Republique and Chât...
A drone strike hit a power station in northern Sudan early Sunday (1 November), sparking a fire and triggering loud explosions, witnesses said....
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Saudi Arabia’s air defences have intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone over the Riyadh region, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. No casualties were reported.
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public records, a Kabul Institute report released on 22 October said. The United Nations says its oversight systems ensure accountability.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan surged by 330 per cent in 2026 despite a four-year ban, the United Nations said on Thursday. Afghan authorities disputed the findings, while Japan urged continued support for farmers seeking alternative livelihoods.
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
Central Asia could gain up to $640 million a year from closer energy cooperation, but strained electricity grids threaten to limit those gains, with Kazakhstan particularly exposed to regional power shortages and growing pressure on its network.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment