Kyiv official commends Azerbaijan’s vital support to Ukraine during energy crisis

Azerbaijan offered significant assistance to Ukraine during its recent energy crisis, playing a vital humanitarian role amid the ongoing war, said Timur Tkachenko, Head of Kyiv’s Military Administration and an ethnic Azerbaijani.

Tkachenko detailed the nature of this support and reflected on the broader ties between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Tkachenko, born in Kyiv to an Azerbaijani father, Firudin Mammadov, and a Ukrainian mother, Lyudmila Tkachenko, has been serving in various senior government roles over the past three years. His responsibilities have ranged from city administration to positions within key Ukrainian ministries.

"Until recently, I served as Deputy Minister of Transport Infrastructure and Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine. It’s extremely important that Azerbaijan supports Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty. Azerbaijan stands out for its active humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and it was especially helpful to Kyiv during the energy crisis. I deeply appreciate that," he said.

Tkachenko also spoke fondly of his personal ties to Azerbaijan and the solidarity within the Azerbaijani diaspora in Ukraine.

"My father was always proud of his Azerbaijani roots and supported fellow Azerbaijanis here in Ukraine. Azerbaijani communities have always been strong and united — helping one another, standing by each other in hard times. Even today, several civic organizations work actively to bring Azerbaijanis together. It’s a wonderful example of how the Azerbaijani social movement continues to grow in Ukraine," he added.

Turning to security concerns, Tkachenko provided insight into the city’s defensive posture in light of ongoing Russian aggression. He described Kyiv’s efforts to strengthen its resilience and safeguard its critical infrastructure.

"We have an effective structure called the Kyiv City Defence Council, which I co-chair with the city’s mayor. We meet during critical times to make key decisions. For instance, for three years, transport would halt whenever an air raid siren sounded — but Kyiv residents wanted the ability to reach shelter or get home. We solved that issue. Now, we’re focusing on the metro system. Since some sections are above ground, there’s a risk that debris or damage to the rails could paralyze the entire network. It would be technically difficult to quickly restore operations. We're also working on various other security challenges — including managing curfews, issuing passes, and ensuring the city’s basic operations, like maintaining communications and addressing humanitarian needs. In addition, in the event of missile or drone attacks on Kyiv, we work together with the Emergency Service to eliminate the consequences," he explained.

By Vafa Guliyeva