Russia strikes SOCAR facility in Ukraine

The Russian army launched drones and missiles on Ukraine on Sunday, August 17, according to the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian Air Force.

In Odesa, Russian “Shahed” drones struck a terminal of the postal company Nova Poshta as well as a gas station operated by SOCAR, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

This latest strike is part of a broader series of Russian attacks on Azerbaijan-linked facilities in Ukraine, which analysts describe as deliberate and politically motivated.

• On August 8, Russian drones hit a SOCAR oil depot in the Odesa region, causing a fire and damaging a diesel pipeline. Four SOCAR employees were reported injured.

• In early August, Russian forces targeted a gas compressor station near Orlivka, part of the Trans-Balkan pipeline that delivers imported Azerbaijani and U.S. gas, disrupting a vital energy corridor.

• On July 6, explosions in Berezina, Zhytomyr region, seriously damaged two SOCAR-owned gas stations, with local authorities suspecting Russian sabotage groups were involved.