Kazakhstan raises alarm over Black Sea tanker attacks, warning of risks to European energy security

Kazakhstan has expressed concern over a series of drone attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea, warning that the incidents pose growing risks to maritime safety and European energy security.

In a statement issued this week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan said that three tankers en route to the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) were attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles on 13 January 2026. The ministry stressed that Kazakhstan is not a party to any armed conflict and underlined its role as a reliable supplier of energy to international markets.

According to the authorities, the vessels involved held all required permits and were equipped with standard identification systems. No casualties were reported, although damage to the ships was recorded. Following the incidents, Kazakhstan held urgent consultations with ambassadors of several European countries, as well as representatives of the United States and other international partners, calling for coordinated measures to safeguard hydrocarbon transportation routes in line with international law.

A critical export corridor

The CPC is the principal export route for Kazakhstan’s oil, connecting the country’s major producing regions in western Kazakhstan with international markets via the Black Sea. The pipeline runs for approximately 1,500 kilometres to the CPC Marine Terminal near Novorossiysk, where crude oil is loaded onto tankers for onward shipment.

It is operated as an international consortium, reflecting its role as a cross-border, civilian energy infrastructure serving global markets. Under normal operating conditions, CPC carries around 80% of Kazakhstan’s total crude exports, making it the backbone of the country’s oil sector and a key supply route for Europe.

The pipeline transports oil from Kazakhstan’s largest producing fields, including Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak. These assets are central to the portfolios of major international energy companies, including US-based Chevron and ExxonMobil, as well as European groups such as ENI, Shell and TotalEnergies. Analysts estimate cumulative free cash flow from these projects at more than $50 billion over the period 2025–2030, with roughly 20–25% of the proven reserves of some operators concentrated in Kazakhstan.

Relevance for Europe

Europe is a major destination for Kazakh crude exported via the CPC system. In recent years, Kazakhstan has ranked among the EU’s largest external suppliers of oil, exporting around one million barrels per day to the bloc. In 2024, approximately 11.5% of total EU crude oil imports – roughly one in every nine barrels – originated from Kazakhstan, most of it shipped from the Black Sea. According to Eurostat, after Norway and the U.S., Kazakhstan ranked as the third largest importer of oil into the EU, at 12.2% in the third quarter of 2025.

Energy specialists note that CPC Blend, the crude grade loaded at the Novorossiysk terminal, is widely used by European refineries and cannot easily be replaced with alternative supplies in the short term. Disruptions affecting the CPC route therefore tend to translate quickly into tighter supply conditions, higher freight and insurance costs, and increased market volatility.

Pattern of disruption

The January tanker attacks come amid a broader pattern of disruptions linked to CPC infrastructure over the past year. These have included drone strikes on pumping stations, damage to terminal facilities, and temporary suspensions of loading operations during security alerts, compounded at times by adverse weather conditions.

Kazakh officials argue that the growing frequency of such incidents underscores wider risks to civilian energy infrastructure and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Reduced throughput on the CPC route has already affected export volumes, despite the civilian and international nature of the supplies involved.

Diplomatic approach

Astana has emphasised that CPC infrastructure and associated shipping are civilian facilities protected under international law. The government has lodged formal protests through diplomatic channels over attacks on CPC-related infrastructure and reiterated its preference for de-escalation and dialogue.

“Kazakhstan remains committed to the rule of law, freedom of navigation and uninterrupted civilian trade,” the foreign ministry said, adding that disruptions to international energy supply chains affect not only Kazakh producers but also consumers and economies across Europe and beyond.

While the statements stop short of attributing responsibility for the attacks, they underline Kazakhstan’s call for closer cooperation among international partners to prevent further incidents and to safeguard key maritime energy routes.

For European policymakers, the developments highlight the continued vulnerability of critical energy corridors at a time when security of supply and market stability remain central to the EU’s economic and strategic priorities.

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