Azerbaijan Summons Russian Envoy Over Strike on SOCAR Fuel Station in Ukraine

Azerbaijan has summoned Russia’s ambassador to Baku after a Russian strike reportedly hit a fuel station operated by the Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR in Ukraine, marking the latest escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two countries over attacks on Azerbaijani interests during the war.

According to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, the Russian envoy was called in to receive a formal diplomatic protest following the attack on the SOCAR facility. Officials described the strike as unacceptable and demanded a full explanation, stressing that Azerbaijani-owned civilian infrastructure should not become a target of military operations.

The incident follows a series of previous Russian strikes that have affected Azerbaijani energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including attacks on SOCAR oil depots and facilities linked to the transportation of Azerbaijani gas. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has previously accused Russia of deliberately targeting his country’s diplomatic and energy assets despite being provided with the locations of those facilities. Russia has denied intentionally attacking Azerbaijani property, saying any damage was accidental or the result of military operations against Ukrainian targets.

Ukrainian officials condemned the latest strike, arguing that it was aimed not only at Ukraine’s energy network but also at Azerbaijan’s economic interests. Kyiv said the attack demonstrated a broader pattern of Russian strikes against civilian energy infrastructure and called for a strong diplomatic response from Baku.

SOCAR, Azerbaijan’s state-owned energy company, has continued operating in Ukraine despite the ongoing conflict, managing fuel stations and participating in energy supply projects. Azerbaijani authorities have repeatedly emphasized that Russian attacks will not derail their country’s energy cooperation with Ukraine, particularly efforts to expand Azerbaijani gas exports through alternative routes to Europe.

The latest diplomatic protest comes at a sensitive moment in relations between Moscow and Baku, which have deteriorated over several incidents involving Azerbaijani interests in Ukraine. Analysts say the summoning of Russia’s ambassador underscores Azerbaijan’s growing willingness to publicly challenge Moscow while seeking assurances that its diplomatic missions and commercial assets will not be targeted in the conflict.