Baku: Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Mikhail Yevdokimov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, to present a formal note of protest. This action was taken in response to a drone strike on a SOCAR fuel station in Ukraine's Mykolaiv region on the evening of 5 July.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed strong protest during the meeting, handing over a note verbale to the Russian side. The drone attack on the SOCAR facility was highlighted as not being an isolated incident. It was emphasized that other SOCAR-owned facilities in Ukraine, such as a gas distribution compressor station and an oil depot in Odesa, have also been targets of military strikes. These events have led to material damage and injuries among SOCAR employees.

The Azerbaijani officials stressed that the persistence of such attacks, despite repeated warnings, suggests intentional targeting. The discussion also covered damage caused by airstrikes to the premises of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv and the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv. The importance of adhering to the Vienna Conventions for the protection of diplomatic and consular premises was underlined.

Azerbaijan has urged the Russian side to undertake a thorough investigation of these incidents, provide explanations for the attacks, and ensure full compliance with international obligations to protect civilian objects and diplomatic missions.