Drones strike three oil tankers in Black Sea near Novorossiysk

Reuters reported the information.

The tanker attacks occurred as vessels approached the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal near Novorossyisk, which handles approximately 80% of Kazakhstan's crude exports to international markets. Two Suezmax tankers and one Aframax tanker were damaged in the strikes, though all crew members remained safe, according to eight sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The attacks come amid mounting disruptions to Kazakhstan's oil sector, where U.S. oil majors including Chevron and ExxonMobil dominate production. The country's oil and gas condensate output has cratered between January 1 and January 12 compared to December's average, primarily due to export constraints through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, according to a source familiar with the data.

Chevron confirmed that one of its chartered tankers was among those struck. "All crew are safe, and the vessel remains stable. It is proceeding to a safe port, and we are coordinating with the ship operator and relevant authorities," the company said in a statement.

The terminal itself had previously been targeted on November 29, when a Ukrainian drone struck one of three main CPC moorings at the facility. While Ukraine has been systematically targeting Russian energy infrastructure to pressure Moscow to end its war, Kyiv did not comment on Tuesday's tanker strikes, and it remains unclear who was responsible for the attacks.

Among the vessels hit was the Matilda, chartered by a subsidiary of Kazakhstan's state-owned KazMunayGas and managed by Greece's Thenamaris. A Thenamaris official confirmed the vessel was struck by two drones while waiting 30 miles off the CPC moorings. "There were no injuries and the ship suffered minor damage to deck structures according to an initial assessment, which is fully repairable. The ship, seaworthy as it is, is now sailing away from the area," the official said.

Two other tankers managed by Greece's Delta Tankers—the Delta Harmony and Delta Supreme—were also attacked. The Delta Harmony was expected to load Kazakh-produced oil from Tengizchevroil, a Chevron unit.

Maritime security experts warn that the attacks could significantly increase both shipping and insurance costs for vessels loading oil at Russian Black Sea terminals, which handle more than 2% of global crude. Kazakhstan's energy ministry said Tuesday that CPC was continuing to export oil through one remaining mooring, though the disruptions have severely constrained the country's ability to bring crude to international markets.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, whose shareholders include KazMunayGas, Russia's Lukoil, and units of Chevron and ExxonMobil, declined to comment on the attacks.