A fuel deposit from the state-owned oil company of Azerbaijan, Socar, was hit on Monday (18) by Russian drones in the Odesa region, in southern Ukraine. It was the second attack on the company’s facilities in the country in less than two weeks, according to Ukrainian officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky ranked the episode as a “deliberate” attack and said the offensive “was not only against us, but also against our energy relationships and security.”
Chancellor Andrii Sybiha has asked Baku’s government to give an “adequate diplomatic and legal response” to what he called actions against Azerbaijan’s interests. So far, nor to punch, which maintains about 60 gas stations in Ukraine, nor Azerbaijan authorities have spoken.
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The Ukraine Energy Minister said it is still “difficult to evaluate the damage” and that rescue teams continue to work at the scene. There is no immediate information about victims.
On August 8, another russian attack with drones had already damaged a Socar terminal, leaving at least four injured, according to sources from the energy sector heard by Reuters.
Moscow did not comment on the attacks. The Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukraine energy and critical infrastructure, many of them away from the front line.
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The episode takes place amid the meeting between Zelenskiy and Donald Trump in Washington. Zelenskiy seeks robust safety guarantees and a reliable ceasefire, positions reinforced by the condemnation of recent attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure have suffered in recent hours that, according to Ukrainian authorities, seem to weaken their position before the meeting
(com Reuters)
