A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region has damaged an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, and left four people injured, industry sources told Reuters.
“Several drones struck the oil depot of the Azerbaijani company SOCAR this night,” one energy industry source said. “The damage is difficult to assess at this point. Several people were injured.”
SOCAR, which operates around 60 fuel stations across Ukraine, is a key player in the country’s energy supply chain. The strike marks a significant escalation in the vulnerability of foreign-operated infrastructure, as Russia continues to target Ukraine’s critical facilities far from the front lines.
In recent months, Moscow has intensified its campaign of missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and essential services, including energy systems and logistics hubs. These attacks are seen as an attempt to disrupt Ukraine’s resilience ahead of the winter.
Earlier this week, another Russian strike hit a gas compressor station in the Odesa region, used for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States and Azerbaijan. Ukrainian officials described the incident as part of a broader strategy aimed at undermining the country’s winter preparedness.
Ukraine has been diversifying its energy sources and transit routes in response to the ongoing conflict. In July, it pumped a test volume of Azerbaijani gas through the Trans-Balkan pipeline- a first for the route and has since announced plans to ramp up imports from SOCAR.
The drone strike comes as Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visits Washington, where he is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump and sign a preliminary peace agreement with Armenia, brokered by the United States. The timing of the incident underscores the geopolitical complexity of the region, where energy infrastructure has become both a strategic asset and a target.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
NATO's Secretary-General urged European leaders to step up defence efforts to prevent a war waged by Russia, that could be "on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured".
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake has struck northern Japan, triggering tsunami warnings and forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground.
In a dramatic Champions League clash at Baku’s Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Qarabağ grabbed an early lead, but Ajax staged a thrilling comeback to win 4-2.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their tensions through dialogue and engagement, as it pledged to work with the international community to help improve relations between the two countries.
The global centre of political gravity is increasingly moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a development with significant implications for the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Turkmenistan on 11–12 December to attend the International Peace and Security Forum in Ashgabat.
The South Caucasus is witnessing a notable recalibration of geopolitical alignments, with Azerbaijan and Armenia both pursuing strategic partnerships with global powers, including the United States and China.
Energy ministers from the Turkic States have agreed to expand cooperation on key oil, gas, and green energy projects at an event hosted by Türkiye this week. It's a significant move towards regional energy collaboration.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanar touched on the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Slovakia.
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