US Asked Ukraine to Halt Tanker Strikes, Kyiv Hits Russia’s Key Black Sea Base

Ukraine struck Russia’s naval base in Novorossiysk overnight with Neptune missiles, Palyanytsia jet-powered drones, and unmanned maritime systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported, even as Kyiv reportedly agreed to spare a key Kazakh oil export route at the same Black Sea port.On Wednesday, Zelensky described the attack, conducted more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the front line, as a “unique operation” against what he called the Russian fleet’s last major stronghold in the Black Sea.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.He said Ukrainian weapons hit air defense positions, naval piers, and port infrastructure.The announced targets were separate from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal and the non-Russian tankers that Kyiv has reportedly agreed not to attack.Additionally, on Wednesday, the Financial Times reported that US Vice President JD Vance made the request during a July 31 phone call with Zelensky, according to Ukrainian officials and other people familiar with the discussions.Ukraine has not attacked tankers near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal since then.Washington was concerned that further attacks could disrupt global oil markets and harm American companies involved in transporting Kazakh crude through the Russian port.Ukraine agreed not to target CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels unless they are under Ukrainian sanctions or carrying Russian oil or other Russian cargo. Other Topics of Interest ‘The Best Drone Is One That Never Rises’: Germany Mulls Cyberattacks on Russian Drone Makers Marc Henrichmann, chairman of the Bundestag’s Parliamentary Control Committee, said Germany’s intelligence agencies need to be able to disrupt threats before they reach German territory. A US administration official confirmed that Washington had warned Ukraine against attacking non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea and CPC infrastructure as the US considers the pipeline “a vital channel” for delivering Kazakh energy to European markets as an alternative to Russian supplies.The CPC pipeline carries oil from Kazakhstan to a terminal near Novorossiysk. It handles about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports and nearly 2% of global crude supplies, according to Reuters. US companies Chevron and ExxonMobil hold stakes in the consortium and major Kazakh oil fields served by the route.A person familiar with Kyiv’s position told the Financial Times that Ukraine accepted the Trump administration’s request partly because it is seeking US authorization to manufacture interceptors for the Patriot air defense system.Kyiv also hopes to purchase several hundred Patriot missiles before winter, when Russia is expected to intensify attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, the person said.Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russia’s oil industry in an effort to reduce the revenue available to finance Moscow’s war. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.