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.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. T...
The German broadcaster says energy, trade, transport and regional stability are transforming relations between Baku and Berlin....
Aid organisations in Afghanistan are struggling to keep women in work as Taliban restrictions force them to spend more on male guardians, transport an...
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The German broadcaster says energy, trade, transport and regional stability are transforming relations between Baku and Berlin.
The Trump administration is pressing ahead with new immigration rules that will impose fixed time limits on visas for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors and journalists, tightening requirements for thousands of people who study and work in the U.S.
A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one U.S. astronaut successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, highlighting continued U.S.-Russian cooperation in space despite wider geopolitical tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The German broadcaster says energy, trade, transport and regional stability are transforming relations between Baku and Berlin.
Aid organisations in Afghanistan are struggling to keep women in work as Taliban restrictions force them to spend more on male guardians, transport and separate workplaces, a June 2026 survey has found.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for a renewed round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks during a two-day visit to Kyiv, as Ankara seeks to revive its role as a mediator and advance efforts towards a negotiated end to the war.
Slovak President Peter Pellegrini says cooperation with Azerbaijan is moving beyond formal diplomacy, with new opportunities emerging in energy, defence, cybersecurity, trade and education.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has warned that Tehran would target remaining infrastructure in the region if the Islamic Republic’s infrastructure were attacked by the U.S. military, according to the Defa Press military news website.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment