Aliyev and Zelensky Condemn Russian Strikes on SOCAR Facilities in Ukraine

August 10, 2025

Aliyev and Zelensky have condemned Russian strikes on facilities of Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR, in Ukraine. If Moscow continues its aggressive policy toward Azerbaijan's interests, Baku may lift its embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine.

On August 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. According to the Azerbaijani president's website, "during the phone call, the President of Ukraine congratulated the head of our state on the successes achieved in connection with the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the support of United States President Donald Trump."

In response, Aliyev thanked Zelensky for the congratulations and noted that "the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in particular the declaration signed between the two countries witnessed by the U.S. President, and other documents will serve to ensure lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region."

During the conversation, both leaders condemned Russia's "deliberate airstrikes on the oil depot of the Azerbaijani company SOCAR and other facilities of our country in the territory of Ukraine, as well as on the gas compressor station transporting Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine." They expressed confidence that "this will under no circumstances lead to a suspension of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine in the energy sector."

According to the news agency Caliber.az, which is close to the Azerbaijani presidential administration and cites "reliable sources," "if Russia continues its aggressive policy towards Azerbaijan's interests, official Baku will begin to consider lifting the embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine, which it has in its arsenal."

Between the night of August 7 and August 8, 2025, Russian troops attacked the Azerbaijani company SOCAR's oil depot in the Odesa region of Ukraine. Russia launched five "Shahed" attack drones at the SOCAR oil depot, causing a fire and damaging a diesel pipeline. Four company employees were seriously injured. This marks the second attack in recent weeks on facilities in Ukraine linked to Azerbaijan. Previously, a gas distribution station near Orlivka was attacked. It is a key part of the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, through which Azerbaijani gas began flowing to Ukraine on June 28.