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Russia’s Strikes on Azerbaijani Energy Sites Could Turn Baku Into Ukraine’s New Arms Supplier
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Azerbaijan is considering lifting its arms embargo on Ukraine if Russian attacks on Azerbaijani energy infrastructure in Ukraine continue, according to Azerbaijan media Caliber.Az.
The report follows a phone call on August 10 between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, during which the two leaders condemned Russian airstrikes targeting facilities owned by the state oil company SOCAR and a gas compressor station supplying Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said the attacks were an attempt to block energy routes critical for Ukraine’s and Europe’s energy independence. Both leaders stressed that the strikes would not halt cooperation in the energy sector.
On the night of August 7–8, Russian forces launched five Shahed-type drones at a SOCAR oil depot in Odesa region, causing a fire, damaging a diesel pipeline, and severely injuring four company employees.
This was the second strike on Azerbaijani-linked energy facilities in the region within a week.
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Earlier, on August 6, Russian forces attacked the Orlivka compressor station near the Romanian border, through which Azerbaijani gas has been supplied to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan pipeline since June 28.
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine said the Orlivka station was deliberately targeted with “dozens of drones” in an effort to damage trade relations between Kyiv, Baku, and other partners.
Azerbaijan began supplying gas to Ukraine under an agreement between SOCAR and Naftogaz. While the volumes are small, Ukrainian officials describe them as strategically important.
Caliber.Az reports that if Moscow continues what Baku views as an “aggressive policy” against its interests, Azerbaijan may begin considering the supply of weapons from its arsenal to Ukraine.
Until now, Aliyev has maintained that Azerbaijan does not provide arms to Ukraine despite requests, offering humanitarian assistance instead. According to official figures, that aid has exceeded $40 million, including participation in the reconstruction of the city of Irpin, home to a large Azerbaijani community.
Earlier, on July 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, reaffirming Ukraine’s support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity amid a diplomatic crisis with Moscow following the deaths of two Azerbaijani nationals in Russian custody and the detention of Russian citizens in Baku on espionage charges.
