Kazakhstan suspends oil exports as drone attacks on Russian terminal disrupt EU supply chains
Disruption to Caspian Pipeline Consortium crude raises concerns for Romania and signals shifting diplomatic tones in Central Asia.
Kazakhstan has suspended oil exports following drone attacks that damaged the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) marine terminal in the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The suspension affects the supply of CPC brand crude, a significant source for the European Union, particularly Romania. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, appearing alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in Omsk, called for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war, suggesting a return to the "Istanbul formula 2.0" to freeze the conflict along the current front line.
This marks a shift in tone for Tokayev, who previously refused to recognise occupied Ukrainian regions. He praised Putin’s "diplomatic flexibility" and named Russia a "great power" capable of guaranteeing peace. The attacks, which began in November 2025 but intensified in July 2026, prompted an angry response from Astana, with the Foreign Ministry calling them an "unacceptable encroachment" on economic interests.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Viktor Mayko, denied responsibility, stating there was "no proof" that the drones were Ukrainian and urging Astana to avoid "hasty and ungrounded accusations". The disruption impacts the supply of CPC brand crude, a key supply for the EU, particularly Romania, where gasoline production could drop by up to 15 percent if shipments do not resume.
US officials reportedly warned Ukraine against striking non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea, following lobbying by Chevron executives. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth approached White House officials earlier in the week to resolve the issue. An unnamed US official told the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration warned Ukraine against attacking non-Russian ships.
Romania’s Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that while no immediate supply problems were expected, gasoline production could drop by up to 15 percent if shipments do not resume. Meanwhile, Kazakh citizens, such as bank clerk Alzhas in Almaty, expressed indifference to the geopolitical conflict, citing immediate concerns over inflation and cost of living.
