US expert condemns Russian strike on SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine

The Russian Armed Forces’ recent attack on the Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) oil depot in Ukraine’s Odessa region has been called an “outrageous act” by Peter Tase, founder of the Azerbaijan-US Business and Education Council in Wisconsin and honorary professor of American diplomacy and US foreign policy, in comments to domestic media.

Ukrainian authorities reported that the strike, carried out with Iranian Shahed drones, triggered a major fire and damaged a diesel fuel pipeline. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, four SOCAR employees sustained serious injuries and were hospitalised.

Tase stressed that this was not incidental collateral damage from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but rather a deliberate attack targeting a prominent Azerbaijani company and national brand. He noted the striking timing of the assault, occurring less than ten hours after a trilateral White House summit, where President Donald Trump mediated a historic agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, effectively resolving the decades-long conflict between the two nations.

Highlighting the strategic significance of the facility, Tase said the SOCAR depot is a critical supplier of fuel to European markets. He described the attack as both a military escalation and part of Russia’s ongoing hybrid and information war against Azerbaijan and its economic interests in Europe.

“The August 8–9 attack on the SOCAR facility in the Odessa region is a monstrous act that EU countries must unequivocally condemn,” Tase said. “It conveys two messages: first, that Russian hardliners are targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure; second, that certain factions in Russia are projecting hegemonic ambitions toward the South Caucasus.”

Tase argued that irritation over the White House summit may have contributed to the attack, describing it as an “open military provocation” against Azerbaijan on Ukrainian soil. He also reiterated the need for accountability in the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane on December 25, 2024, which killed 38 people and injured 29 others.

The expert emphasised that Azerbaijan’s geopolitical goals have historically aligned with those of the United States. He called the recent peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia “the most important event in the history of American diplomacy and Azerbaijani foreign policy since the USSR’s collapse.”

Finally, Tase warned that intelligence operations, hybrid warfare, and cyberattacks targeting Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and the US risk undermining trust, disrupting international trade, and diminishing opportunities for cultural and economic influence.

By Tamilla Hasanova