The Ministry of Defense in Moscow has reported that more than 20 Ukrainian UAVs have been intercepted or destroyed in the southern Krasnodar Region
Several drones have attacked a major oil pumping station in southern Russia, the facility’s US-linked operator, CPC, has claimed. The incident took place amid a wider reported drone barrage involving some 20 UAVs which attacked Russia’s Krasnodar Region the same day, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to a press release by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a conglomerate involving US giants Chevon and ExxonMobil, the attack on the Kropotkinskaya pumping station was carried out in the early hours on Monday by drones filled with explosives and metal elements.
CPC is one of the largest international oil transportation project in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with the participation of Russia, Kazakhstan, and a consortium of leading oil companies, including the US giants.
The pipeline system mainly collects crude from large oil fields in West Kazakhstan, as well as from Russia. In 2024, US companies controlled some 40% of oil supplies shipped via the CPC. Overall last year, a total of 62.4 million tons of oil were transported via the pipeline, via the CPC, with 7.3 million tons (11.7%) originating from Russia and 55.1 million tons (88.3%) from Kazakhstan, according to data.
“The attack was timed, aiming to not only disrupt service of the facility but also cause casualties among the station’s operations personnel,” a CPC statement claimed, adding that the Kropotkinskaya pumping station has been taken out of service as a result of the attack.
No injuries have been reported by the pipeline operator.
“All shareholders of the international consortium, including representatives of companies from the US and Europe have been notified of the terrorist drone attack on a civilian target and its outcome,” the company stated.
The latest Ukrainian drone attack on the Kropotkinskaya pumping station comes in the wake of upcoming high-level talks between Russia and the US. The sides are set to hold negotiations in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to restore diplomatic relations and pave the way for a settlement of the Ukraine conflict.
The talks were proposed during last week’s 90-minute phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian drones have repeatedly targeted Russian energy infrastructure. In 2023, UAVs unsuccessfully attempted to strike the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to multiple European countries. In 2023 pipeline operator Transneft reported that several drones had dropped explosives near an oil-pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk Region.
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