**Azerbaijan May Reconsider Weapons Ban for Ukraine**
Baku is considering lifting its ban on supplying arms to Ukraine from its arsenal if Russia continues targeting Azerbaijani interests in Ukraine. This shift comes after a series of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure linked to Azerbaijan.
On August 8, Russian forces launched five Shahed drones at a SOCAR oil depot in Odesa Oblast, sparking a fire and damaging a diesel pipeline. Four SOCAR employees were seriously injured. This marked the second recent Russian attack on Azerbaijani-linked facilities in Ukraine. In late June, Russian forces targeted a gas distribution station near Orlivka, which is part of the Trans-Balkan pipeline that carries Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine.
According to Caliber.Az, a Baku-based news outlet, Azerbaijan’s government has been “systematically” struck by Russia in recent weeks. This could trigger a policy reversal on weapons exports to Kyiv. So far, Azerbaijan has refrained from supplying arms to Ukraine during the full-scale war.
A phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev discussed the strikes and bilateral energy cooperation. Zelensky condemned the attacks, saying they were “deliberate” and targeted not only the facilities but also their cooperation. Aliyev assured Zelensky that despite challenges, Ukraine and Azerbaijan would continue to cooperate.
**Long-standing Ties Between Azerbaijan and Ukraine**
Azerbaijan and Ukraine have maintained close energy and trade ties for years. Kyiv imports Azerbaijani oil and gas, while SOCAR has expanded its investments in Ukraine’s fuel infrastructure. Before the Russian invasion in 2022, Baku supplied Ukraine with certain military equipment.
Since the start of the all-out war, Azerbaijan has officially maintained a policy of not providing lethal aid to either side. However, they have offered humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, including energy equipment, financial aid, and infrastructure support, valued at over $40 million as of mid-2025.
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