Oil shipments to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk were halted following Ukrainian attacks that damaged vital energy infrastructure during one of the most significant overnight assaults on the Krasnodar region in recent months, as reported by Reuters on Friday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the situation.
According to two sources quoted by the agency, Transneft, Russia’s state-owned pipeline operator, stopped crude oil flow into Novorossiysk, which also ceased its oil receiving and loading operations in the wake of the assault.
Officials from the Krasnodar region stated that the strikes impacted facilities at the Sheskharis oil transshipment complex, which ignited fires that were later brought under control.
A local state of emergency was declared in Novorossiysk, an important hub for crude exports from both Russia and Kazakhstan, located on Russia’s southeastern Black Sea coastline.
As worries about supply disruptions grew, global oil prices rose by approximately 2%.
Transneft has not yet issued any public statements regarding the reported suspension of oil shipments.
The Governor of the Krasnodar region, Venyamin Kondratyev, mentioned that a civilian vessel in the port was also hit by falling debris, resulting in injuries to three crew members.
Novorossiysk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko reported damage to coastal facilities, several apartment buildings, and private residences, with one person injured. He noted that temporary shelters had been established for those affected.
In addition, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that its air defense systems had successfully shot down or intercepted 216 Ukrainian drones, with 66 being over the Krasnodar region and 59 over the Black Sea.
Further north, in the city of Saratov, residents reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked the Rosneft-operated Saratov oil refinery, which has a processing capacity of about 140,000 barrels per day and produces gasoline, diesel, and other fuels.
The Governor of Saratov region, Roman Busargin, indicated that unidentified “civilian infrastructure” was damaged.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its air defenses intercepted 45 Ukrainian drones over the Saratov region.
Flights were briefly restricted at 11 airports across Russia during the overnight air assaults, including those in Krasnodar and Saratov.
Ukrainian authorities have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the strikes.
