Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday issued an apology for the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet crash in Kazakhstan that occurred earlier this week, but stopped short of claiming responsibility for it.

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia told the Azerbaijani leader, Ilham Aliyev, in a phone call, “that the tragic incident took place in Russian airspace.”

Evidence that a Russian missile may have shot down an Azerbaijani passenger jet has sparked anger in the Caucasus and beyond. Putin issued an apology of sorts, a move that was unprecedented but may not eliminate the effects of the disaster on Russia’s already damaged reputation in the region.