Kathrine Frich
For decades, Azerbaijan’s relationship with Russia has been shaped by a mix of historical dependence, security tensions and economic ties that survived the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Although cooperation has continued in areas such as energy and trade, distrust has grown in recent years as Russian military activity repeatedly spilled into regions where Azerbaijani citizens and interests were present.
That fragile relationship is once again under strain after a missile blast in Ukraine damaged Azerbaijan’s embassy.
Diplomatic alarm
Reuters reported that Baku summoned the Russian ambassador after an Iskander missile explosion near the embassy in Kiev destroyed part of its perimeter wall and caused significant damage inside the compound.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that no staff members were harmed and that the embassy remains operational.
Officials said the scale of the blast required an immediate diplomatic response. Emergency teams assessed the site and documented structural destruction.
The presidential administration also moved quickly to address the situation at the highest level.
Call between leaders
According to HotNews.ro, President Ilham Aliyev held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which both leaders condemned the incident.
Aliyev described the missile strike as “an unacceptable violation of international law.”
Azerbaijani officials noted that this was not the first time Russian attacks had come dangerously close to their diplomatic mission.
Strikes in January 2024 and August 2025 caused heavy damage in the surrounding area, including a crater and destruction of nearby buildings.
Azerbaijani institutions have faced repeated risks throughout the conflict.
Pattern of incidents
The Foreign Ministry recalled that the consulate in Kharkiv was severely damaged in March 2022.
Two more Russian drone attacks in August injured employees of SOCAR, the Azerbaijani state oil company, and damaged a fuel depot it operated in the Odessa region.
During the meeting with the Russian ambassador, officials said:
“it was emphasized that such attacks on our diplomatic missions are unacceptable and it was requested that the Russian side conduct an adequate investigation and provide a detailed explanation.”
They also urged steps to ensure that similar events do not occur again.
Russia’s response
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its overnight operation targeted Ukrainian military industrial facilities and the energy networks supporting them.
It did not specifically address the damage to Azerbaijan’s embassy.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since December of last year, when Russian air defenses accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani passenger aircraft, killing 38 people.
President Vladimir Putin later called the incident “tragic.”
Putin met with Aliyev last month and pledged compensation for the families of the victims, but the latest blast adds new pressure to an already delicate relationship.
Sources: Reuters, HotNews.ro
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
