Attacks on SOCAR and the note of protest from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on July 5-6, 2026, affected facilities of the Azerbaijani oil and gas company SOCAR in the Mykolaiv region. Azerbaijan considers the repeated strikes to be deliberate and demands an investigation, explanations, and adherence to international obligations from Moscow.

On the morning of July 6, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported a "massive strike on energy and military-industrial complex facilities, as well as on military airfields in Ukraine" ¹. As a result of these attacks, SOCAR's infrastructure was also affected - the largest foreign operator in Ukraine's fuel market ².

Summoning of the Russian Ambassador

On July 6, 2026, the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the strike on the SOCAR gas station in the Mykolaiv region, and Azerbaijani diplomats handed him a note of protest ³. The ministry emphasized that the attack is not an isolated incident - SOCAR facilities have repeatedly been subjected to strikes, leading to destruction and injuries to employees ⁴.

Baku also reminded about the damage to the buildings of the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv and the honorary consulate in Kharkiv in 2025. At that time, the Azerbaijani side handed over a note of protest after a missile fell on the embassy's territory. Moscow denied involvement, claiming "incorrect operation of the Ukrainian air defense" and the fall of a Patriot missile ⁵.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that on July 6, a strong protest was expressed to the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mikhail Yevdokimov, regarding the drone strike carried out on the evening of July 5 on the SOCAR gas station in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine ⁶.

During the meeting, it was noted that the drone attack is not an isolated case. "SOCAR's facilities in Ukraine have previously suffered devastating consequences from military actions, leading to significant material damage and injuries to company employees," the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

The continuation of such incidents, despite repeated warnings, indicates that the attacks are carried out deliberately, the ministry believes. Attention was also drawn to several airstrikes that damaged the premises of the embassy in Kyiv and the honorary consulate in Kharkiv, emphasizing the importance of strict adherence to obligations to protect diplomatic and consular premises in accordance with the Vienna Conventions.

"The Russian side was offered to conduct a comprehensive investigation of all the aforementioned incidents, provide appropriate explanations regarding the attacks, and ensure full compliance with its international obligations regarding the protection of civilian objects and diplomatic missions," stated the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs ⁷.

Strikes on Azerbaijani diplomatic missions and SOCAR infrastructure

In November 2025, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over a note of protest after a missile fell on the territory of the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv and the honorary consulate in Kharkiv. Part of the wall was destroyed, structures were damaged, service vehicles and the consular department were affected. The coordinates of the diplomatic facilities were provided to Moscow back in April 2022 ⁸.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by stating that, most likely, the cause was the incorrect operation of the Ukrainian air defense system, presumably the fall of a Patriot missile ⁹. "When planning strikes, careful control of combat application data is carried out to exclude damage to the civilian population, and the locations of foreign diplomatic missions are taken into account," the ministry stated ¹⁰.

In August 2025, a gas distribution station near the village of Orlovka - a facility of the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline on the border with Romania, which provided reverse gas supplies, was also attacked ¹¹. Damage to the equipment led to the shutdown of part of the transit capacities ¹².

In the same month, Ukraine and Azerbaijan accused Russia of an airstrike on the SOCAR oil storage facility in the Odesa region ¹³. At that time, the facility was completely destroyed - a large fire broke out, a pipeline was damaged, four employees were injured ¹⁴.

In July 2025, as a result of explosions in the village of Berezina in the Zhytomyr region, significant damage was inflicted on two SOCAR gas stations located on both sides of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr road ¹⁵.

SOCAR in Ukraine

SOCAR Energy Ukraine is a network of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, covering 11 regions of Ukraine. According to the company's official website, about 60 SOCAR gas stations operated in the country ¹⁶. In addition, the company owns at least four oil storage facilities. SOCAR also has a bunkering vessel used for refueling ships. It was previously reported that two similar complexes for servicing small and medium-sized vessels were launched in Kyiv and the Odesa region ¹⁷.

Notes

1. https://t.me/mod_russia/65337
2. The Russian Armed Forces struck SOCAR gas stations in Mykolaiv - Baku protested to Moscow // Oil Capital, 06.07.2026.
3. Azerbaijan handed a note to Russia // Azertaj, 06.07.2026.
4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Repeated attacks on SOCAR facilities in Ukraine were apparently deliberate // Report.az, 06.07.2026
5. Ibid.
6. https://www.mfa.gov.az/en/news/no30126 06.07. 2026
7. Ibid
8. Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs//www.mfa.gov.az/en/news/no43125
9. On the meeting of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation M.Yu.Galuzin with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Moscow R.S.Mustafaev // Official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 21.11.2025.
10. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over the damage to the Azerbaijani embassy in Kyiv // RBC, 21.11.2025.
11. Ukraine confirmed damage to the gas station in the Odesa region // Lenta.ru, 06.08.2025.
12. SOCAR assesses damage after the drone strike on the gas station in Ukraine // Vesti.az, 06.07.2026.
13. In the Odesa region, a drone strike affected an energy facility. Likely, SOCAR's oil depot // Oil and Gas.ru, 18.08.2025.
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwGcdk-cR0U
15. Explosions in the village of Berezina caused significant damage to SOCAR Energy Ukraine gas stations // 1news.az, 06.07.2025.
16. SOCAR increased the number of its gas stations in Ukraine to 60 // Trend.az, 30.01.2017.
17. The Russian Armed Forces struck SOCAR gas stations in Mykolaiv - Baku protested to Moscow // Oil Capital, 06.07.2026.