Ukrainian drones attacked two tankers at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal near Novorossiysk on the morning of July 19, the consortium's press service reported. The targets were the tankers ASIA (flagged in Liberia) and NISSOS IOS (flagged in the Marshall Islands), which were moored at offshore berthing facilities VPU-1 and VPU-3.
A fire broke out on board the ASIA, which according to CPC was receiving oil from Tengizchevroil (whose largest shareholder is U.S.-based Chevron). The fire has been extinguished. Both vessels remain afloat, and no oil spill occurred. No injuries were reported among CPC employees, contractors, or international crew members, and no one sought medical assistance.
Oil loading at the marine terminal was halted. CPC emphasized that the consortium unites major enterprises from Russia, the United States, Kazakhstan, and several Western European countries. 'We believe that an attack on the company's facility and civilian vessels in the waters of the CPC Marine Terminal is also an attack on the interests of CPC member countries,' the company said, calling the incident 'the fifth act of direct aggression against a purely civilian CPC facility.'
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that on the night of July 19, Ukrainian units struck two tankers in the Black Sea that, in its assessment, were used to transport Russian oil and fuel for the Russian military. The statement did not name the vessels or specify the attack area. Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi (call sign 'Madyar') also reported strikes on two tankers, a dry cargo ship, and a floating crane, calling them part of Russia's shadow fleet, without providing names.
The attacked tankers are not on known sanctions lists of Russia's shadow fleet, The Insider found. However, according to Starboard Maritime Intelligence, the ASIA has made 20 port calls in Russia during its operation, including Novorossiysk, Tuapse, and Primorsk. The NISSOS IOS also made 20 port calls in Russia, including Novorossiysk, Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Vistino. Automatic Identification System (AIS) data confirms that the ASIA listed the CPC terminal and Chevron as its destination, while the NISSOS IOS listed the CPC terminal and KMG (likely KazMunayGas), consistent with CPC's account of the oil being loaded.
CPC noted that this is the fifth attack on its facilities. The consortium transports oil from Kazakhstan's Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields to a terminal near Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka. In 2025, about 70.5 million metric tons of oil were transshipped through the terminal, with more than 75% coming from foreign shippers.