Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan has taken a well-balanced and multi-dimensional stance rooted in the principles of international law, respect for state sovereignty, and strategic calculation. Despite the geopolitical complexity of the region and the need to maintain a certain diplomatic balance, Baku has consistently supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity and provided significant assistance — humanitarian, infrastructural, technical, and diplomatic.
As of July 2025, Azerbaijan’s total aid to Ukraine has exceeded $42 million USD, covering more than ten areas — from energy supply to child rehabilitation. This includes deliveries of medicine, food, clothing, essential supplies, 134 transformers, 70 generators, and more than 2 million meters of power cables, along with other equipment critically needed for Ukraine’s devastated civilian infrastructure. Energy assistance, delivered in cooperation with SOCAR, has been directed toward ensuring uninterrupted operation of hospitals, childcare facilities, and life-support services. Azerbaijan was among the first countries to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine as early as February–March 2022 and has continued regular deliveries to this day. These include targeted fuel shipments for emergency vehicles, provided through SOCAR subsidiaries in Ukraine.
Special attention has been given to the rehabilitation of war victims. According to data presented at the Rome Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery held on July 10–11, 2025, the number of Ukrainian children who have undergone medical and psychosocial rehabilitation in Azerbaijan reached 330 — twice as many as the previous year. The programs cover both physical treatment and psychological support, including extended stays in specialized children’s institutions. These efforts are carried out in cooperation with Azerbaijani medical and humanitarian organizations and supported by the country’s government.
Beyond humanitarian assistance, Azerbaijan has actively contributed to the restoration of Ukraine’s social infrastructure. In the city of Irpin — one of the hardest-hit areas in Kyiv Oblast — Baku has supported the reconstruction of a school, a city clinic, a park, and financed the construction of four new social facilities, including rehabilitation centers and cultural-educational venues. In Kyiv, renovations of a children’s shelter and a city park have been completed. These projects are implemented in coordination with local authorities and directly funded by the Azerbaijani state.
Another area of Azerbaijan’s contribution is support for demining Ukrainian territory. With significant expertise in this field gained after the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has been providing Ukraine with technical equipment, engineering solutions, consultations, and specialist training. Through its national agency ANAMA, the first batches of equipment and spare parts have already been delivered, including personal protective gear, along with offers to train Ukrainian personnel through international programs. This aid has practical value, as landmines and unexploded ordnance remain among the main threats to civilians and to the economic recovery of Ukraine’s agricultural regions.
Azerbaijan’s political stance on the Ukrainian issue remains clear, balanced, and rooted in international law. Baku consistently advocates for conflict resolution based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, does not recognize the annexation of Ukrainian territories, and supports diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving sustainable peace. At the same time, Azerbaijan combines restrained rhetoric with concrete actions: humanitarian assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and engagement in international post-conflict recovery platforms.
In addition to official support, civil society also plays a vital role. Through NGOs and Azerbaijani diasporas in Ukraine and Europe, independent humanitarian deliveries, generator procurement, and temporary shelter for refugees — including children and the elderly — have been organized. According to Ukrainian sources, dozens of evacuation operations have been funded or logistically supported by Azerbaijani volunteers. Open sources and statements by Jeyhun Mammadov, Secretary-General of the Council of Azerbaijanis of Ukraine, indicate that approximately 500 ethnic Azerbaijanis are serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Most are Ukrainian citizens, though some received citizenship in 2022–2023 under President Zelensky’s decree on naturalization of foreign fighters. According to Report, since the start of the war, at least 130 Azerbaijanis have been killed, about 100 wounded, and more than 70 are missing.
Azerbaijan’s approach to Ukraine reflects a mix of strategic restraint and practical involvement. Baku does not limit itself to declarations but makes a tangible contribution to humanitarian protection, recovery, and Ukraine’s defense capacity. Amid ongoing conflict, this behavior strengthens Azerbaijan’s international reputation as a responsible, pragmatic, and independent actor capable of acting in the spirit of solidarity and international law.
