The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has officially protested to the Russian Ambassador following a Russian strike on a SOCAR gas station in the Mykolaiv region. According to the state media outlet AZERTAC, Baku considers these actions deliberate targeting of Azerbaijani infrastructure within Ukraine.
This incident is not an isolated event. Previously, Russian forces struck a gas compression station and an oil depot owned by SOCAR in Odesa. In its formal statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry explicitly declared that “the continuation of such incidents, despite repeated warnings, indicates their targeted nature.” This rhetoric signals a significant shift in Baku’s patience regarding the security of its assets and diplomatic personnel in the war zone.
Beyond economic infrastructure, the protest highlighted damage to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kyiv and the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv. These strikes violate the Vienna Conventions regarding the protection of diplomatic missions. Azerbaijan has demanded that Moscow conduct a thorough investigation into every incident, provide official explanations, and fulfill its international obligations to protect civilian and diplomatic facilities.
For Azerbaijan, the safety of its diplomatic staff is paramount. The recurring pattern of strikes on buildings linked to foreign states demonstrates that the Kremlin continues to ignore international norms. By formally calling out Russia, Baku joins a growing list of nations demanding accountability for the destruction of civilian infrastructure and threats to international diplomatic presence on Ukrainian soil.
The diplomatic rift underscores the increasing isolation of Russia’s actions. As the war continues, the destruction of civilian and foreign-owned facilities further undermines Moscow’s remaining international credibility. Baku’s decisive stance serves as a reminder that the deliberate targeting of non-military entities is a grave violation of international law that cannot be excused as collateral damage.