Nairobi: The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) announced that two oil tankers, the Liberia-flagged ASIA and the Marshall Islands-flagged NISSOS IOS, were subjected to drone attacks near its terminal in the Black Sea.

According to Anadolu Agency, the CPC confirmed that oil loading operations were halted following the attacks. Fortunately, there were no casualties or oil spills reported. A fire that ignited aboard the ASIA tanker was successfully extinguished by emergency response teams.

The CPC condemned the drone strikes, labeling them as the fifth "act of direct aggression" against what they consider a civilian facility shielded under international law. The consortium emphasized that the attack on their facility and civilian vessels is also an attack on the interests of the consortium's member countries, which include major fuel and energy enterprises from Russia, the United States, Kazakhstan, and several Western European nations.

The consortium highlighted its significance by stating that it has never been the target of international sanctions, underscoring its crucial role in global energy security and the interests of its international shareholders. CPC is responsible for transporting crude oil from Kazakhstan's Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields, shipping approximately 70.5 million metric tons of oil in 2025, with over 75% of the volume belonging to foreign producers.

Earlier reports from Ukraine's General Staff claimed that its forces targeted two tankers in the Black Sea, alleging that they were used for transporting Russian oil, petroleum products, and fuel.