Russia’s recent drone strikes on SOCAR oil depots in Ukraine, including two major attacks in Odesa on August 8 and 18, have highlighted Moscow’s recklessness while inadvertently strengthening Azerbaijan–Ukraine energy cooperation. The attacks destroyed significant infrastructure, but Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev condemned them as deliberate, and Kyiv confirmed the damage. Russian claims that the facilities were inactive were dismissed as excuses. Instead of deterring cooperation, the strikes accelerated it. Azerbaijan pledged an additional $2 million in aid to Ukraine and began negotiating new natural gas deliveries, with trial runs via the Trans-Balkan Corridor already completed and a long-term contract under discussion. In late July, Naftogaz and SOCAR Energy Ukraine signed a landmark agreement for pilot gas imports, building on earlier efforts dating back to 2011 and 2021. Analysts argue that Moscow’s attempts to undermine this partnership have backfired, pushing Baku and Kyiv into deeper alignment. As a result, Azerbaijan contributes reliable energy and expertise, while Ukraine offers storage and a critical market, creating a stronger strategic partnership that Russia had hoped to prevent.
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