Ukraine, West unleash hybrid operation against Azerbaijan
Baku disappointed with Kyiv’s actions

ANALYTICS  25 March 2024 - 15:25

The Russian-Ukrainian war, or rather, the global confrontation between Russia and the West, is observed not only on the battlefields, but also in the information field.

The West pays special attention to Azerbaijan. Washington and European countries cannot allow such an important regional country like Azerbaijan, the importance of which has sharply increased after the second Karabakh war, to remain outside of a sophisticated game that threatens to escalate into a total war of all against all.

Baku has so far managed to maintain aside from all centres of power thanks to President Aliyev’s balanced foreign policy. However, someone really wants

Baku to join the anti-Russian coalition and, even more, become one of the springboards for the war with Russia.

Of course, the West does not take into account the fact that Azerbaijan is purposefully building its foreign policy, which is based on the interests of the state and people.

We have recently completed the war, and now all the country’s efforts are aimed at restoring the liberated territories.

Baku clearly states that it is not interested in the dangerous games of powers. Baku adheres to good neighbourly relations with all regional countries, including Russia, develops an energy partnership with Europe and renders humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

However, the US and its allies are displeased with Azerbaijan’s distancing from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. “This is war and all is fair in war” the representatives of the Western countries say.

There are some information leaks that Azerbaijan is allegedly supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Thus, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence Industry was forced on March 24 to refute reports about the alleged supplies of mortar shells to Ukraine through the ministry in 2022 and 2023.

“In response to the inquiries regarding the information about the alleged “sending of military equipment by Azerbaijan to Ukraine” we inform that these messages are fakes and disinformation,” the statement said.

The ministry noted that such messages have been repeatedly made.

“Similar attempts have already been made. We declare once again that Azerbaijan did not send any military equipment in the indicated direction,” the ministry emphasised.

The targeted information provocations on Ukrainian topic have been made against Azerbaijan for about two years, the sources in the Azerbaijani government told Caliber.Az.

Moreover, the West and Ukraine, rather than our traditional enemy - Armenia, which is simply taking advantage of the opportunity to annoy Azerbaijan, make provocations, the source said.

“A hybrid information operation is being carried out against us. We did not send any weapons to Ukraine. There is an attempt to ruin our relations with Moscow, and we know well who is behind these attempts,” the source in the Azerbaijani government said.

The source noted that the main goal of these information provocations is to pull Baku into the anti-Russian camp - contrary to Azerbaijan’s national interests.

Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the West and Ukraine have repeatedly made the requests regarding the supply of weapons from Azerbaijan. However, Baku’s answer has always been unequivocal. Ukraine will not get a single cartridge and in fact, military weapons were not supplied to the Ukrainian side, the governmental source said.

It is obvious that amid a lack of weapons in Ukraine as a result of the inability of the Western military-industrial complex to constantly provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with weapons, the developing defence industry of Azerbaijan, using the advanced developments of Türkiye and Israel, seems to be a convenient opportunity to replenish the depleted arsenals of the Ukrainian army.

After all, the Azerbaijani defence industry not only meets the needs of the Azerbaijani army in many types of weapons, but also exports them to several countries. There is one important exception. This partnership does not apply to the countries involved in hostilities, including Ukraine.

Azerbaijan's reluctance to be drawn into a confrontation with Russia is causing growing discontent in the West. That’s why it is spreading the lie about Azerbaijan sending military equipment to Ukraine.

In some cases, even documents are falsified, fake information is posted in the Ukrainian corresponding state agencies’ websites. The latest fake news was disseminated by some Russian media outlets and Telegram channels, as well as Armenian yellow press and dubious personalities. We have already stressed that all is fair in war, is not it?

As for the West, everything is clear. While unleashing wars on other countries’ territories, the West never really thought about morality and victims. However, it is very difficult for Azerbaijan to understand the Ukrainian side, which is actively involved in anti-Azerbaijani hybrid activity.

Ukraine must be aware that Azerbaijan knows about these actions. Baku considers such steps as an immoral step by the Ukrainian government towards Azerbaijan. We understand that Ukraine is at war. We always express sympathy and compassion for the Ukrainian people. However, such tricks of Kyiv in relation to Azerbaijan are unacceptable.

Azerbaijan continues rendering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine openly and transparently, the amount of which already exceeds 40 million euros ($43 million). Baku has already sent electrical equipment for Ukraine to restore power supply in the areas affected by the war.

Proceeding from Ukraine’s request, Azerbaijan sent humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, consisting of medicines, medical equipment, medical dressings, as well as food and baby food.

Moreover, Ukrainian children who suffered from war and lost family members are brought to Azerbaijan for medical and socio-psychological rehabilitation as part of humanitarian assistance activity.

The Azerbaijani side restored several social facilities in Irpin that were greatly damaged during the war.

Azerbaijan’s position has also always been transparent and unambiguous on the fundamental issue of supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity. So why does Ukraine spoil these relations? Have not Ukrainian politicians drawn a lesson from the spoilt relations with once-friendly Georgia?

Azerbaijan will not participate in the Ukrainian war, fuelled and organised by the superpowers, and will not supply weapons. Azerbaijan can only hope that Ukraine and the West will finally realise this.

Caliber.Az