US Intervened in Ukraine Strikes on Novorossiysk Port Over Oil Tanker Concerns

According to unconfirmed reports, Ukraine halted drone strikes on non-Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea following a request from US Vice President J.D. Vance to protect energy markets and American firms.

US Intervention and Oil Market Stability

The British daily Financial Times reported unofficially on Wednesday that Ukraine, at the request of the United States, suspended drone attacks on non-Russian tankers utilizing the Russian port of Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai on the Black Sea. The request was reportedly made by US Vice President J.D. Vance.

According to Reuters, the United States pointed out that Ukraine was destabilizing oil markets and harming American companies by attacking tankers transporting oil from Kazakhstan to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in that port. Ukraine reportedly agreed to halt such attacks as long as the tankers are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions and do not transport Russian oil or cargo.

Ukrainian Operations in Novorossiysk

On Wednesday before noon, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a unique operation targeting the naval base in Novorossiysk, the last major stronghold of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Our Palianycia jet drones, Neptune missiles, and unmanned naval systems successfully attacked designated targets. Hits were confirmed on air defense positions, quays, and seaport infrastructure, Zelensky wrote on the X platform. According to Reuters, the strikes damaged the two largest grain terminals located in the port.

Krasnodar Krai Governor Benjamin Kondratiev reported that the region repelled a massive attack by several hundred drones from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian authorities claim that two people were killed and that Kiev targeted civilian facilities and homes. Drone debris fell on 21 residential buildings, including apartment blocks, and four businesses, Kondratiev added.

Attacks also occurred overnight in Russian-occupied Crimea. Moscow-appointed Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev reported that severe damage was recorded in 10 residential buildings and 25 private homes, and 13 cars were also damaged. Unofficial media reports indicate that explosions were heard near the thermal power plant in Balaklava near Sevastopol.

Russian Strikes Across Ukraine

In Ukraine itself, at least three people were killed and more than 20 were injured over the past day as a result of Russian attacks, authorities in the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa oblasts reported.

Two people were killed and two others were injured as a result of a Shahed drone attack in the center of Kherson in southern Ukraine on Wednesday at 1:40 AM local time. Overall, in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Kherson oblast, 14 people were injured over the past day.

In Zaporizhzhia in the southeast of the country, Russians attacked a shopping mall, which was destroyed, although, according to preliminary data, no one was injured. Nearly 1,200 consumers were left without electricity following the shelling. Throughout the Zaporizhzhia oblast over the past day, one person was killed and nine were injured.

In Odesa on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, a Russian drone hit the fifth floor of a residential building. No one was injured.

According to a statement from the Air Force, Russians attacked Ukraine last night using missiles and drones. They used an Iskander-M ballistic missile, air-launched Kh-35 cruise missiles, and 138 heavy attack drones, including jet-powered ones. 122 drones were destroyed or neutralized with the help of electronic warfare. Hits were recorded in 16 locations and debris from downed enemy assets in two locations, the Ukrainian Air Force reported.