Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of coordinating with its Western allies in a recent drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a major oil pipeline transporting Kazakh and Russian oil through the Black Sea. The strike, which disabled a key pumping station, has raised concerns over regional energy security.
Putin Suggests Western Involvement
As reported by Digi24, Putin suggested that the attack could not have been carried out without satellite reconnaissance provided by Ukraine’s Western allies.
“These types of attacks are impossible without space-based reconnaissance,” Putin stated, implying that European and American intelligence services played a role in assisting Kyiv. He also noted that the pipeline is an international energy infrastructure, not solely a Russian asset, making its targeting “incomprehensible” from a strategic standpoint.
Impact on Oil Exports
The attack damaged the Kropotskinskaya pumping station, located about 200 kilometers south of Rostov-on-Don. The CPC pipeline spans 1,551 kilometers and is responsible for more than two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s oil exports, in addition to Russian crude from the Caspian region.
According to the pipeline’s operator, exports of Kazakh oil could drop by 30% over the next two months due to the damage. The incident further complicates the geopolitical landscape, as the pipeline also facilitates oil shipments from companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil.
While Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack, the incident underscores the growing tension between Moscow and Kyiv, as well as the broader implications for global energy markets.
