Russian forces struck the grounds of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Kyiv during an overnight barrage, provoking an angry response from Baku and adding a new layer of diplomatic tension to the war. The missile hit the area surrounding the embassy, which is situated next to Kyiv’s Artem missile plant, damaging the perimeter fence, several official vehicles, the administrative building and the consular section. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry immediately summoned Russia’s ambassador, Mikhail Yevdokimov, handing him a formal note of protest, and demanding an explanation for what it views as a grave violation of diplomatic norms. Moscow has yet to offer any official comment on the incident.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his outrage directly to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring that this was not the first time Azerbaijani diplomatic or civilian sites in Ukraine had come under Russian fire. Previous strikes have damaged Azerbaijani properties in cities such as Kharkiv, prompting Baku to argue that the pattern raises questions about whether these incidents are accidental or part of a deliberate campaign. Azerbaijani media and officials noted that repeated hits on their diplomatic presence can no longer be dismissed as mere collateral damage.
The strike comes at a sensitive moment for Azerbaijan-Russia relations, which have deteriorated sharply over the past year. Political frictions, arrests and competing regional interests have strained what was once considered a close partnership. Analysts suggest that damage to an embassy—sovereign territory under international law—may accelerate the diplomatic rift and could push Azerbaijan to take the matter to international forums if Moscow remains silent.
For Ukraine, the episode highlights the wider danger faced by foreign missions in Kyiv as Russian missile and drone attacks continue to strike civilian and diplomatic infrastructure around the capital. For Azerbaijan, it is a stark reminder that its assets in Ukraine remain vulnerable despite its efforts to maintain a balanced foreign policy. As Baku awaits a formal explanation from Moscow, the attack has already intensified concerns about the safety of diplomatic staff and the future trajectory of Azerbaijan-Russia relations.
