Russia’s largest Black Sea oil port has suspended tanker loading for several days following an increase in Ukrainian drone attacks in the surrounding region.
Shipping information, satellite imagery, and vessel tracking confirm that the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk has not loaded crude oil since the morning of July 21, according to Bloomberg.
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While severe weather can cause delays at the facility, a storm warning affecting Sheskharis only came into force late Thursday, two days after the final loading took place.
Tankers were also unable to collect barrels at the nearby Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal this week due to elevated drone activity in the area.
Data indicates that the Sheskharis terminal has shipped an average of 650,000 barrels per day since the start of the year. Bloomberg notes that any extended stoppage at Sheskharis risks putting further pressure on global energy markets, which are already strained by tensions in the Middle East.
Wave of Ukrainian strikes
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) recently struck a tanker in the Black Sea as part of broader efforts to weaken Moscow’s military and economic capabilities.
The General Staff of the AFU confirmed the strike overnight Wednesday into Thursday, stating that the vessel transported Russian oil, petroleum products, and fuel for the Russian military. The statement did not identify the tanker or provide more details about the extent of the damage.
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According to the statement, the AFU also struck a pontoon crossing near Novoekonomichne in the Donetsk region, which Russian troops were reportedly using to support military logistics and transfer personnel and equipment. Another strike targeted an area where Russian soldiers were concentrated in Horlivka, though the General Staff reported no casualties and did not disclose the number of troops at the site.
“The Ukrainian Defense Forces will continue systematically taking measures aimed at ending the Russian Federation’s armed aggression,” the General Staff said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi reported that over the previous 48 hours, Ukraine’s drone offensive had struck 13 Russian ships and 13 energy facilities in occupied Crimea.
An additional 13 “Shadow Fleet” vessels were struck, including dry cargo vessels, tankers, and floating cranes used to evade Western sanctions. According to Brovdi, the strikes brought the total number of vessels hit during the 13-day operation “Molochka” to 172.
Leaked documents indicate that Russian occupation authorities appear to be preparing for the possible evacuation of the families of Black Sea Fleet personnel and civilian military employees from occupied Crimea as Ukraine continues to pressure military and logistical infrastructure in the region.
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