Ukraine Halts Drone Attacks on Tankers at Russian Port After US Appeal

Ukraine has temporarily suspended drone strikes on oil tankers operating out of Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, following a direct appeal from U.S. Vice President JD Vance last month. The move, reported by the Financial Times and attributed to Ukrainian officials, comes amid Washington's concerns that such attacks were destabilising global oil markets and hurting American companies.

The U.S. administration had specifically warned Kyiv against targeting non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea. In response, Ukraine agreed not to strike Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) infrastructure or ships that are not under Ukrainian sanctions, provided those vessels are not carrying Russian oil or cargo.

The pause follows a period of intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says is aimed at cutting off resources that fund Moscow's military campaign. These Black Sea drone strikes reportedly disrupted as much as a fifth of CPC oil loadings in July, according to sources familiar with the data.

The disruption has had a significant impact on Kazakhstan, which relies heavily on the CPC route for its crude exports. Oil production in the country fell by 14% in July compared to June. Western oil majors, including Chevron and Exxon Mobil, operate in the region and have been affected by the spillover of the conflict.

Neither the White House, the State Department, nor Vice President Vance's office has yet commented on the report. The details of the arrangement could not be independently verified.