Ukraine Pauses Tanker Strikes After Massive Novorossiysk Port Attack

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine paused drone strikes on non-Russian oil tankers and Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) infrastructure at the Russian port of Novorossiysk following a request from U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The U.S. administration warned that attacks on tankers carrying Kazakh crude oil were destabilizing global markets and harming American firms, including Exxon Mobil and Chevron. In July, these strikes impacted one-fifth of CPC loadings and contributed to a 14% drop in Kazakhstan's oil production.

Ukraine agreed to spare non-Russian vessels and CPC infrastructure, provided the ships are not under Ukrainian sanctions and are not transporting Russian cargo. This diplomatic shift occurred alongside a massive Ukrainian drone strike on Novorossiysk conducted Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Hundreds of drones targeted the strategic naval harbor and export hub, with infrared data confirming fires on the waterfront.

The attack hit a naval yard housing a significant concentration of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including Kilo-class submarines and Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates that had relocated from Sevastopol. In response to the persistent threat, Russian cargo ships have begun implementing physical modifications and using World War I-style dazzle camouflage to confuse Ukrainian attackers.