On Monday, Russia reported that Ukrainian drones attacked the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) Black Sea terminal, which is crucial for 1.5% of global oil supply. The attack damaged the single point mooring, loading infrastructure, and four large storage tanks. Concurrently, the Ukrainian military claimed to have targeted oil loading facilities at the nearby Sheskharis terminal in Novorossiysk. These strikes mark a significant escalation in Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict.
The Russian defense ministry accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting the CPC to inflict economic damage on its shareholders, which include major energy companies like Chevron and Exxon Mobil. The CPC terminal, located southwest of Novorossiysk, is vital for Kazakhstan’s crude exports, handling 80% of them.
Additionally, Ukraine’s military reported that its drones hit Sheskharis, damaging six of seven oil tanker loading stands and igniting large fires at the site. Sources indicated that a fire affected Transneft’s main pier, which services large tankers. The full impact on loading operations remains unclear, as Transneft has not responded to inquiries. Last year, Sheskharis loaded between 600,000 and 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
