Aliyev blasts Russia's attack on key Azerbaijani oil depot in Ukraine during Zelenskyy call
Photo: Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on August 10 with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Both condemned Russia's deliberate strike on the oil depot of the Azerbaijani company SOCAR.
Zelenskyy congratulated Aliyev on the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He also updated Aliyev on Ukraine's talks with international partners about peace negotiations with Russia.
"We discussed communication with the United States, European countries, and the key principles that can bring peace closer. I am grateful for the support of our people and statehood. It is important that the joint efforts of the world ultimately compel Russia to stop its hostilities and aggression," Zelenskyy said.
The two leaders also addressed energy cooperation and Russian attempts to disrupt it. Zelenskyy highlighted Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, including the transportation of Azerbaijani oil and gas.
"Ukraine considers this a deliberate attempt by Russia to block the energy routes that ensure energy independence for us and other European countries. We are doing everything to protect our country and our people," he added.
Aliyev's office confirmed that Azerbaijan condemns Russia's strike on SOCAR's oil depot and the attack on a gas transit station near Romania's border.
"During the conversation, both sides condemned the deliberate airstrikes by Russia on an oil storage facility owned by Azerbaijan's SOCAR in Ukraine, as well as other Azerbaijani facilities and a gas compressor station transporting Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine," the statement said.
Russia attacks Azerbaijani facilities in Ukraine
On August 8, Russian forces struck SOCAR's oil depot in the Odesa region overnight using Shahed drones. The attack caused a fire and damaged a diesel fuel pipeline.
This is not Russia's first indirect attack on Azerbaijan. Recently, Russian forces launched dozens of drone strikes on a gas transit facility near Ukraine's border with Romania. The station transports gas from the US and Azerbaijan to Ukraine.
Since mid-July, Ukraine's state company Naftogaz has received Azerbaijani gas through the Trans-Balkan corridor. This new supply source could strengthen Ukraine's energy security over time.
