Greek-Run Oil Tanker Comes Under Attack in Russian Black Sea
(Bloomberg) -- A Greek-run oil tanker was attacked in the Black Sea after loading a Russian-origin cargo, the latest example of how the nation’s war with Ukraine is disrupting petroleum flows.
The Suezmax-class Skiros, able to hold about 1 million barrels of oil, was attacked after loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s terminal near Novorossiysk, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.
While CPC mostly loads Kazakh barrels, the consignment in question was Russian-originated, the people said. The attack happened on Sunday close to the terminal, they said.
That’s the first strike on a vessel calling at the CPC terminal — the critical conduit for Kazakh crude exports — after almost a three-week lull in attacks. Last month, repeated drone strikes disrupted loading of CPC cargoes, that recently accounted for almost 2% of global oil supplies, and forced Kazakh oil fields to reduce production.
CPC declined to comment on its operations or matters related to oil shipments from producers. A spokesman for Ukraine’s General Staff said he “has no data to comment on the issue.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine agreed to refrain from targeting the CPC infrastructure and non-Russian vessels bound for the sea terminal as long as those ships are not otherwise subject to Ukrainian sanctions and aren’t carrying Russian cargo, according to a US official. Russian-origin crude typically accounts for 5% to 10% of CPC exports.
The latest attack raises risks for sustainable operations at the CPC, whose ownership includes oil majors Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil, as well as Russia’s state pipeline company and Kazakhstan’s state oil and gas company.
At the end of last month, following multiple attacks on tankers, CPC even considered an option to halt operations to avoid environmental and safety risks, but decided to continue operations.
The Athens-based company listed on Equasis as the manager of the Skiros said that there were no injuries or pollution as a result of the incident and that the vessel’s owners were aware of it. The company declined to comment further.
©2026 Bloomberg L.P.
