Baku lodges protest with Russia after strike on Azerbaijani petrol station in Ukraine

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Russian Ambassador Mikhail Yevdokimov, where he was issued a strong protest and handed a diplomatic note in connection with a drone attack on a SOCAR petrol station in Ukraine's Mykolaiv Oblast on the evening of 5 July.

Source: Azerbaijani outlet haqqin.az, citing the country's Foreign Ministry

Details: During the meeting, it was noted that this drone strike was not the first such incident. Previously, other SOCAR facilities in Ukraine, including a gas distribution compressor station and an oil depot in Odesa, had also been subjected to military strikes and suffered destructive consequences. Significant material damage was caused, and company employees were injured.

It was emphasised that the continuation of such incidents, despite repeated warnings, indicates their deliberate nature.

During the meeting, attention was also drawn to several air strikes that damaged buildings of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kyiv and the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv. The need for strict compliance with obligations to protect diplomatic and consular premises in accordance with the Vienna Conventions was stressed.

"The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the Russian side to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all the mentioned facts, provide appropriate explanations regarding the incidents, and comply with international obligations to protect civilian infrastructure and diplomatic missions," the statement said.

Background: On 5 July, Russian forces struck a SOCAR petrol station located in the village of Nechaiane, 30 kilometres from Mykolaiv towards Odesa. The station was attacked twice – the first Shahed hit at 19:16, and the second at 19:33.

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