Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Ukraine Halts Strikes on Tankers at Russian Port After US Request
Ukraine and Russia are in a big fight called a war.
Ukraine was using flying machines called drones to attack ships that carry oil.
These ships were stopping at a Russian port on the Black Sea.
The oil on the ships came from another country called Kazakhstan.
The United States worried these attacks were hurting the world's oil business and American companies.
So the United States asked Ukraine to stop attacking these oil ships.
Ukraine agreed and paused the attacks.
The deal says ships that carry Russian oil can still be attacked.
Because of earlier attacks, Kazakhstan lost about 14 percent of its oil production in July.
A newspaper named the Financial Times reported this news, and other reporters could not check it yet.
Ukraine paused drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a request from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the Financial Times reported.
Ukraine agreed not to target CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels, unless such vessels were under Ukrainian sanctions or carried Russian oil or cargo.
Black Sea drone attacks took out as much as a fifth of CPC oil loadings in July.
Kazakhstan, which relies on the CPC route for crude exports, saw oil production fall 14% in July versus June.
A U.S. official confirmed Washington warned Ukraine to stop attacking non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea; Reuters could not verify the FT report.
- Who
- Ukraine, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Kazakhstan, and Western oil majors such as Chevron and Exxon Mobil.
- What
- Ukraine paused drone strikes on oil tankers using Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a U.S. request.
- When
- Reported by the Financial Times on Wednesday, August 12; the U.S. request was made last month; the strikes cut CPC loadings in July.
- Where
- The Black Sea, focused on the Russian port of Novorossiysk and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, with effects on Kazakhstan.
- Why
- The U.S. was alarmed that Ukraine was destabilising oil markets and harming U.S. firms; Ukraine says its strikes aim to deprive Russia of resources to fund its military.
Ukraine's Military Campaign
U.S. and Market Concerns
Strikes on oil tankers and CPC infrastructure
Ukraine's Military Campaign
Attacks on Russian energy infrastructure deprive Russia of resources to fund its military, making them a legitimate wartime measure for Ukraine.
U.S. and Market Concerns
The attacks destabilise oil markets and harm U.S. and Western firms and Kazakhstan's economy, so Washington asked Ukraine to stop.
Scope of the halt on non-Russian vessels
Ukraine's Military Campaign
Ukraine agreed to spare non-Russian vessels only if they are not under Ukrainian sanctions and are not carrying Russian oil or cargo, keeping the right to strike otherwise.
U.S. and Market Concerns
A U.S. official confirmed the administration warned Ukraine to stop attacking non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea, reflecting a broader demand to protect all third-party shipping.
- Port
- Novorossiysk, Russia (Black Sea)
- Who requested the halt
- U.S. Vice President JD Vance (per Financial Times)
- Source
- Financial Times report, August 12, citing Ukrainian officials
- Ukraine's condition
- No strikes on CPC infrastructure or non-Russian vessels unless sanctioned or carrying Russian oil/cargo
- Impact on CPC loadings
- Up to one-fifth of July loadings cut by Black Sea drone attacks
- Kazakhstan oil output
- Down 14% in July versus June
- Western oil majors affected
- Chevron and Exxon Mobil
- Verification
- Reuters could not independently verify; White House, State Department and Vance's office did not respond