In the course of its aggression against Ukraine, Russia has, in effect, “opened a second front” — this time against Azerbaijan. The strike on the gas transportation system toward Odesa, through which Azerbaijani oil is also exported, is not merely another display of Russia’s hostility toward Azerbaijan — it marks an open shift to the use of force, the legality of which, let’s be realistic, is not even worth discussing.
Until recently, Russia itself exported gas through Ukraine. Now, however, the situation has changed. Ukraine receives gas from Europe via reverse flow — importing it through the same pipelines that once carried Russian gas exports. This includes gas from Azerbaijan, based on recently concluded agreements. Meanwhile, Russia is striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in an attempt to deprive the civilian population of light and heat during the winter season, starting its actions well in advance — already from late summer.
But now, the strikes are deliberately targeting Azerbaijani infrastructure. This does not look like a coincidence. Previously, a missile strike hit near the Azerbaijani embassy in Ukraine. Later, a missile fell next to SOCAR’s office. Now, the gas transportation system is under attack.
All these actions are part of Russia’s deliberate policy aimed at undermining Azerbaijan’s activities in Ukraine, serving as further proof of its hostility toward our country — the same policy that includes the destruction of our passenger plane, pressure on the Azerbaijani diaspora (including the tragic events in Yekaterinburg), and Russia’s conduct in the case of the Azerbaijani civilian aircraft shot down near Grozny by Russian air defense.
It cannot be ruled out that in the near future, new SOCAR gas stations in Ukraine could also become targets for missile or kamikaze drone strikes. If Russia is willing to target civilians — children, women, and the elderly — then such a scenario is entirely plausible.
