Russia’s Black Sea coast targeted in fresh drone raid

Oil loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) terminal on Russia’s Black Sea coast was halted yesterday after a drone strike.

IMAGE: Getty Images

Two oil tankers, Liberia-flagged ASIA and Marshall Islands-flagged NISSOS IOS, came under drone attacks at the CPC terminal off Russia’s Black Sea coast yesterday, the pipeline operator said on social media platform Telegram.

The vessels were attacked during loading operations, CPC said. A fire started onboard ASIA, following which oil loadings at the terminal were suspended.

The latest round of attack comes days after Ukraine and Russia engaged in a fierce fire exchange in the region.

Last week, Ukraine struck 20 Russia-linked vessels in the Black Sea – of which, 17 were Russian oil tankers, two gas carriers and one tugboat.

The Black Sea is one of the most vital conduits for Russian crude and fuel exports.

The CPC operates a 1,510 km oil pipeline connecting Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea oil deposits with Russia's ⁠Black Sea ​port of Novorossiysk. Oil loaded at ​Novorossiysk is then taken by tanker to world markets. CPC accounts for about 80% of ​Kazakhstan’s oil exports, according to Reuters.

CPC transports oil from three major oilfields Kazakhstan – Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak. Last year, the pipeline transported about 70.5 million mt of crude oil, CPC said.

Ukraine engages in lethal drone attacks

Ukraine has targeted Moscow and the surrounding region, including the town of Domodedovo and Belgorod, with a barrage of drones earlier today, Moscow region ‌governor Andrei Vorobyov said in a statement on Telegram.

A fire broke out at a local industrial park in Domodedovo, Vorobyov added.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at an oil depot in the wider Moscow region, Reuters reported.

Off late, Kyiv has intensified its campaign to cripple Russian energy revenues, expanding its focus beyond refineries and export terminals to target Moscow's vital fuel supply routes and tanker fleet.

The attacks coincide with a renewed oil price rally, triggered by Iran's escalating regional aggression and US reinstating its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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