LONDON (Reuters): Ukraine has paused drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following a request from US Vice President JD Vance, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing Ukrainian officials.
According to the report, Washington requested the pause last month after expressing concern that Ukrainian attacks on tankers were disrupting global oil markets and affecting US companies involved in transporting Kazakh crude through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal at Novorossiysk.
The Financial Times said Ukraine agreed not to target CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels, provided those ships were not under Ukrainian sanctions and were not carrying Russian oil or other Russian cargo.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the report. The White House, the US State Department and Vance’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside normal business hours.
What Impact Have the Black Sea Attacks Had on Oil Supplies?
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, saying the strikes are intended to reduce Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations.
According to sources familiar with the data, Ukrainian drone attacks in the Black Sea disrupted as much as 20% of CPC oil loadings in July, affecting crude exports from Kazakhstan as well as operations involving major Western energy companies.
Kazakhstan, which relies heavily on the CPC export route, recorded a 14% decline in oil production in July compared with June, according to the sources.
Energy companies including Chevron and Exxon Mobil operate in Kazakhstan and use the CPC pipeline system to transport crude through Novorossiysk.
The Financial Times also reported that a US official confirmed the administration had warned Ukraine against attacking non-Russian commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea, reflecting Washington’s concern over the broader economic impact of the conflict on global energy markets.