Russia bombs Azerbaijani embassies in a massive missile strike to retaliate to jet transfers to Ukraine.

A quiet power shift is unfolding in the South Caucasus, and it is catching Moscow off balance. Once viewed as a small, cautious state, Azerbaijan is now challenging Russia’s regional influence in ways few expected. From strategic energy deals to discreet military cooperation with Ukraine, Baku is steadily eroding the levers Moscow once controlled. Tensions reached a new level after a missile strike on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Kyiv, an incident Baku interpreted as a deliberate message rather than a mistake. What followed revealed not only diplomatic outrage, but also the depth of Russia’s growing frustration. The confrontation now stretches far beyond a single attack, pointing to a much larger realignment of power across Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

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