EditUkraine commits to stop attacks on non-Russian ships carrying Kazakh oil
Overall, Kazakhstan ranks among the EU’s top three crude suppliers (after the United States and Norway)
The private understanding, reached after talks between senior U.S. officials and Ukrainian leadership around 31 July, covers vessels bound for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal near Novorossiysk, provided they are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions, do not carry Russian cargo, and are not owned by Russian individuals or entities.
Kyiv has established contact points for commercial shippers to share vessel information and arrange safer passage. Ukrainian authorities are also issuing guidance clarifying which ships may still face risk. The commitment aims to restore more normal loadings of CPC Blend, a light crude that accounts for the bulk of Kazakhstan’s oil exports (around 80%) and roughly 2% of global supply.
Background: strikes, Kazakh protests and U.S. pressure
The agreement follows a series of Ukrainian drone strikes in mid-to-late July 2026 on tankers near the CPC terminal. Loadings were repeatedly suspended, storage filled, and some shipowners avoided the area, disrupting Kazakh exports and raising insurance and freight costs.
Caspian Pipeline Consortium oil loadings suspended after drone attacks on tankers
As EUalive reported, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks as “an unacceptable infringement upon the economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan” and a deliberate effort to disrupt international trade and energy markets. Astana highlighted that a previously agreed information-sharing mechanism for civilian vessels had been disregarded, endangering crews. It demanded an immediate halt, called on partners to condemn the strikes and introduce safeguards, and reserved the right to seek compensation under international law. The Kazakh statement did not name Ukraine, and Kyiv did not publicly claim responsibility for the specific CPC-related incidents.
The Trump administration urged Kyiv to curb attacks on non-Russian vessels. The appeal followed contacts with industry, including Chevron CEO Mike Wirth (Chevron holds a major stake in the Tengiz field and 15% of CPC). U.S. officials viewed the route as a vital conduit for non-Russian, non-sanctioned Kazakh oil to European markets. Some U.S. lawmakers also warned that further strikes affecting the CPC would not be tolerated, linking the issue to continued American support.
U.S. urges Kyiv to halt attacks on non-Russian tankers after Black Sea drone strikes
Notably, despite the heavy reliance of several EU countries on this oil, neither individual member states nor EU institutions issued public reactions at the time of the July strikes.
Major clients of Kazakh oil
Kazakh crude, primarily CPC Blend exported via Novorossiysk, is overwhelmingly directed to Europe. In 2025 the largest destinations by volume included:
Italy – approximately 28.9 million tonnes (the biggest single market; much of the oil arrives at Trieste and is piped via the Transalpine system to Austria, Czechia and southern Germany).
Netherlands – about 10.6 million tonnes.
France – around 5.6 million tonnes.
Romania – roughly 5.3 million tonnes (up nearly 18% year-on-year).
Greece – about 4.3 million tonnes.
Smaller but notable volumes went to Spain, Turkey, Germany (including via the Druzhba system for some grades), Hungary and others. China took around 3.8 million tonnes, with intermittent Asian buying (South Korea, India) rising when European demand softens or discounts widen.
Romania stands out for its high dependence. Kazakhstan supplies 60–63% of Romania’s crude imports. With domestic production covering only about a quarter of needs, Kazakh oil accounts for roughly half of all crude processed in Romanian refineries. The Petromidia refinery (Rompetrol/KMG International, controlled by Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas) relies almost entirely on it, delivered mainly via the Midia terminal. OMV Petrom’s Petrobrazi also uses significant volumes. July disruptions therefore triggered immediate warnings of possible fuel shortages and pump-price spikes in Romania.
Romania risks fuel crisis as Black Sea drone attacks disrupt CPC supplies
Overall, Kazakhstan ranks among the EU’s top three crude suppliers (after the United States and Norway). The CPC route’s vulnerability directly affects European refining, particularly in the Mediterranean and Southeast Europe. The new understanding on safe passage for qualifying non-Russian vessels is intended to stabilise this important non-Russian supply stream, though its practical durability will depend on continued compliance and the broader trajectory of the Black Sea conflict.
Edited by g.g.
Caption: Corporate visual from the CPC pipeline website.
Updated: August 10, 2026 - 13:55
