ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry has issued a sharp condemnation of an apparent drone attack targeting its territory near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
The strike damaged one of the berths at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal, the ministry stated in a Sunday release. It described the assault as “yet another deliberate attack” aimed squarely at disrupting vital energy infrastructure, for which it blames Kiev authorities.
This incident marks the third such event to affect CPC operations since February 2025, when seven drones struck similar infrastructure. While officials have not officially claimed responsibility from Kyiv, Kazakhstan’s security services implicitly acknowledged Ukraine’s capability in conducting pipeline strikes earlier this year.
The latest attack forced an immediate suspension of cargo operations at the facility located outside Novorossiysk, though oil loadings subsequently resumed according to consortium reports. CPC confirmed that its administrative building was struck and personnel were evacuated following air-raid sirens.
Kazakhstan’s government reacted swiftly, announcing plans to reroute Kazakh oil exports through alternative channels as a result of the damage. The nation’s foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized that the terminal is an “exclusively civilian facility whose operation is safeguarded by norms of international law.”
Beyond immediate repairs and logistical adjustments, Kazakhstan voiced broader concerns about the escalation in attacks targeting its energy sector. “We value stable energy supplies,” said Aibek Smadiyarov, urging Kiev authorities to take concrete steps to prevent recurrence.
The ministry also directly cited the implicated parties – specifically President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s government – as responsible for such destabilizing actions against critical infrastructure essential for global energy security and regional cooperation.
