Russian propagandists say that a pilot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has surrendered in Russiaʼs Kursk Oblast. The Air Force immediately denied this information. Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS;

Ukraine's Air Force on Dec. 29 denied claims spread by Russian media about a Ukrainian pilot surrendering to Russian forces in Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine’s Air Force dismissed the report, stating that the information about a captured Ukrainian pilot is false. They emphasized that all Ukrainian pilots continue to carry out their missions defending the country.

Russian air defense systems may be responsible for downing an Azerbaijani airliner this week, US officials suggest. The crash, which killed 38 people, is under investigation amid rising tensions over Ukraine.

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.