A major crude oil hub on Russia’s Black Sea coast, handling approximately 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports via its Novorossiysk terminal, has suspended operations following damage to a key mooring facility. The operator, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), reported that Single Mooring Point 2 (SMP-2) was heavily damaged in an attack at approximately 4:06 a.m. Moscow time.

The statement issued by CPC noted it as a “third act of aggression against a civilian facility protected under international law,” aligning with recent Russian concerns over escalating threats near the Black Sea region, where Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) Aleksander Bortnikov had previously warned about Ukraine preparing further attacks.

The attack occurred amidst ongoing tensions in the region. Earlier this year, Ukrainian forces had already conducted drone strikes targeting CPC infrastructure twice—once damaging their office at the Novorossiysk terminal last September, and another hitting the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station two months prior. The most recent incident coincided with reports that suggested a similar naval operation by Ukraine on Russian-registered oil tankers off the Black Sea coast.

CPC’s operator confirmed immediately after the explosion that emergency protection systems had activated successfully to close off relevant pipelines, preventing any crude leakage into the sea and reporting no injuries among staff. However, further operation of SMP-2 was halted due to the extent of the damage.

Kazakhstan has now activated an emergency plan to reroute crude oil through alternative pipelines following the disruption at its primary export terminal. The incident underscores a continuing series of international security concerns surrounding energy assets in conflict zones.