Putin disaster as close ally takes revenge on Russia by selling fighter jets to Ukraine | World | News

One of Russia’s former close allies is reportedly secretly selling gas as well as warplanes to Ukraine. Russia and Azerbaijan have been allies for years; a bond sealed by common history and common membership in the Soviet Union.

In recent years, countries that want to gain control over the South Caucasus with their capital Baku and reduce Russia’s power in the region have separated from each other. In this process, Azerbaijan established strong ties with Türkiye, with which it shares cultural and linguistic characteristics. Relations between Baku and Moscow deteriorated sharply this year after Russian forces mistakenly shot down an Azeri passenger plane flying over Chechnya at Christmas.

The plane crashed while it was about to go to Kazakhstan, killing all 38 people on board.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has threatened to take Russia to an “international court” following Vladimir Putin’s attempt to deny responsibility for the tragic incident.

Although the two autocrats met in Tajikistan in early October to resolve their problems, relations remain tense. Far from making amends with Putin, Aliyev seems to be doing his best to mend fences with his Russian counterpart. Reports claimed that Baku sent Su-22 fighter jets to Ukraine through a secret logistics chain run through Türkiye, Sudan and Germany.

The planes were relabeled as humanitarian aid and shipped along routes that once carried Russian-linked weapons.

Azerbaijan also supplies gas to Ukraine via the Trans-Balkan pipeline, which was once dominated by Russia.

Volumes are small, but the deal marks Kiev’s first source of alternatives since cutting off all Russian imports.

Azerbaijan has large stocks of Soviet and Russian-made weapons that it can sell to Ukraine.

The arsenal includes artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), armored vehicles and tanks.

Baku also maintains several Tochka-U short-range ballistic missile systems, now supported by more advanced Israeli platforms.