During a meeting with Bohdan Drapyat, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on August 11, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev stated that Baku supports Ukraine's fight against Russia and intends to help Kyiv in every possible way. 

At the beginning of the event, Bohdan Drapyat thanked the partners for their comprehensive assistance to our country against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion. In particular, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs noted Azerbaijan's recent assistance in eliminating the consequences of the occupiers' explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant. In addition, Bohdan Drapyat told the partners that the invasion of Ukraine by the occupation forces of the Russian Federation and their massive use of various weapons and mining systems led to large-scale contamination of territories, settlements, and infrastructure with explosive devices. "As a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation, approximately 174 thousand square kilometers are potentially contaminated with mines and other explosive devices. Among other things, about 14 thousand square kilometers of water areas of rivers, reservoirs, and water storage facilities of Ukraine, coastal areas of the Azov and Black Seas, hydraulic structures, and seaports need to be cleared of mines and other explosive devices," said the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

"We want to express our admiration for your resilience and courage in repulsing the aggression of the Russian Federation. That is why we decided to increase the size of the aid package to Ukraine, including the issue of humanitarian demining. We have already made political commitments regarding assistance to Ukraine," Mardaliyev said. He explained that Baku is ready to help Kyiv in four directions: medical and psychological rehabilitation for the affected children, rehabilitation of the military, support in the energy sector, and post-war reconstruction. Regarding the rehabilitation, Mardaliyev clarified: "We have chosen the city of Irpin for our cooperation, we are talking about the restoration of the city's infrastructure. The project concept involves the restoration of an architectural center, a sports complex, construction of a new art center for children, and provision of medical equipment for the hospital."

The Azerbaijani and Ukrainian sides also talked about holding trainings in Azerbaijan to exchange experience between specialists on humanitarian demining. Mardaliyev called his country's experience very interesting for Kyiv, as it is not only about national capabilities but also about Azerbaijan's involvement in international missions in the past.

A new aid package for Ukraine was announced towards the end of the meeting. It will include a mechanized demining vehicle. "We will continue to provide you with all necessary assistance. Our president keeps the situation under control and constantly holds talks with your president Volodymyr Zelensky," the Azerbaijani Ambassador added.

Moreover, on August 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video address said, "Azerbaijan is ready to present a new humanitarian aid package to Ukraine, including demining equipment." According to him, it is important to supply Ukraine with demining equipment from partner countries. "Our experts detect hundreds of explosive objects every day. And the more demining vehicles and special demining devices we have, the more proactively we will be able to restore our security. Thanks to every country that helps us," Zelenskyy added.

Russia has reacted with anger to the statement by the Azerbaijani ambassador to Ukraine. "Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kiev Seymur Mardaliyev should be more restrained in his statements about Russia," the head of the Security Council's Committee on International Affairs Grigory Karasin said. 

"With all professional respect for diplomatic publicity, I would still recommend Ambassador of friendly Azerbaijan in Ukraine Mardaliyev to be more restrained in statements about "Russia's aggression." His information about 'political commitments of financial, humanitarian and other assistance to Ukraine' needs additional investigation," Karasin wrote.