Ukrainian Drones Attack Caspian Pipeline Consortium Marine Terminal

Ukrainian drones attacked the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s (CPC) Black Sea terminal on April 6, 2026, damaging critical infrastructure used to export oil from Kazakhstan. The strikes targeted the Yuzhnaya Ozereevka terminal, which handles 80% of Kazakhstan’s crude exports and approximately 1.5% of the global oil supply.

Russia’s defense ministry stated that the attack damaged the terminal’s single point mooring (SPM), loading infrastructure, and four large storage tanks. The ministry alleged that the Kyiv regime targeted the international oil transportation company to cause maximum economic damage to its largest shareholders, which include energy companies from the United States, specifically Exxon Mobil and Chevron, as well as Kazakhstan.

Additional Strikes in Novorossiysk

The attack on the CPC terminal was part of a broader series of strikes in the port city of Novorossiysk, located in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. The Ukrainian military confirmed that drones also struck oil loading infrastructure at the nearby Sheskharis oil terminal, situated approximately 15 kilometers from the CPC facility.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported that the strikes on the Sheskharis terminal, operated by state-run pipeline operator Transneft PJSC, resulted in a large-scale fire. These reports were supported by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) imagery, which showed blazes within the port area of Novorossiysk.

Context of Energy Infrastructure Attacks

These operations occur within the context of a war that has lasted more than four years. Over the past month, Ukraine has increased its targeting of Russian energy infrastructure. The Novorossiysk port area is the largest seaport in Russia and serves as a critical hub for both commodity exports and the Black Sea Fleet naval base.

The vulnerability of these facilities has been demonstrated in previous months. In early March 2026, Ukrainian drone strikes had already caused a temporary halt in oil loadings at Novorossiysk.

Prior to the April 6 attacks, the region experienced other drone strikes. On September 24, 2025, Ukrainian air and naval drones attacked central Novorossiysk and its seaport. That incident resulted in the deaths of two people and injuries to seven others, including a minor. During that attack, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s local office suspended operations after its building was damaged and staff were evacuated.

Responses and Verifications

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium declined to comment on the April 6 attacks. Ukraine did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding the specific damage to the CPC facilities. Reuters reported that it was unable to independently verify the statement provided by the Russian defense ministry regarding the extent of the damage to the storage tanks and loading infrastructure.

Transneft PJSC did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the fires recorded at the Sheskharis terminal.