Russian forces attacked a gas compressor station in Ukraine’s Odesa region that facilitates Azerbaijani gas transit to Europe. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy reported dozens of drones targeted the site near the Romanian border. Energy officials accused Moscow of trying to undermine Kyiv’s ties with Azerbaijan, the United States, and its European allies.
Popular pro-war Russian blogger Yury Podolyaka wryly referred to the attack as “a big gift to ‘friend’ Ilham Aliyev.” That view, highlighted by journalists at Agentstvo, was picked up by the newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets and the television network Tsargrad. Channel One anchor Ruslan Ostashko said the move targeted what he called Azerbaijan’s “performative alignment with Western interests.”
The attack comes amid a steep downturn in Russia-Azerbaijan relations. Tensions have been high since the downing of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243. The situation worsened after Russian police arrested several Azerbaijani diaspora leaders in Russia, prompting Baku to detain Russian nationals in response.
Wednesday’s strike outside Odesa disrupts a critical energy conduit Europe increasingly relies on to end its dependence on Russian gas. In July, Ukraine signed its first contract with Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company to import a small volume of Azeri-origin natural gas through the Transbalkan route, which runs along the Bulgaria–Romania–Ukraine corridor. The targeted compressor station also handles U.S. liquefied natural gas, deepening Western energy links.