Kazakhstan has issued a formal diplomatic protest against Ukraine following a naval drone strike on a critical oil export terminal, condemning the action as a direct assault on bilateral relations and global energy stability.
The incident occurred Saturday when Ukrainian unmanned naval vessels targeted the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal on Russia’s Black Sea coast. The attack forced the diversion of oil tankers awaiting shipments of Kazakh crude to alternative locations, disrupting a vital energy supply route.
In an official statement published Sunday, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry characterized the assault as “an act that harms bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Ukraine” and expressed strong opposition to what it described as the third aggression against civilian infrastructure.
Emphasizing Kazakhstan’s role as a responsible global energy supplier, the ministry highlighted the CPC’s crucial function in maintaining market stability and supply continuity. The multinational pipeline represents the largest export corridor for Kazakh oil, with annual capacity reaching 83 million tons of crude.
The CPC infrastructure comprises a 1,500-kilometer pipeline connecting Kazakhstan’s massive Tengiz oil field to Russia’s Novorossiysk terminal on the Black Sea. The consortium features international partnership between Russian Transneft (24%), Kazakh state-owned KazMunayGas (19%), American energy giants Chevron (15%) and Mobil (7.5%), Russian Lukoil (12.5%), Russian-Dutch venture Rosneft-Shell (7.5%), and Italian Eni (2%), among other stakeholders.
The attack underscores the expanding geographical reach of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and its increasing impact on global energy infrastructure beyond immediate battle zones.