Drone attack on two Greek oil tankers in the Black Sea
In a new escalation of maritime tensions related to the conflict in Eastern Europe, two Greek oil tankers were attacked by unidentified drones Black Sea . One of the tankers was scheduled to load a cargo of Kazakh oil from the Russian coast, raising concerns about the security of vital energy shipping lanes in the region.
Details of the attack and the condition of the ships
the Maltese -flagged Matilda and the Liberian-flagged Delta Harmony, did not sustain significant damage in the attack. Kazmunaygas, the Kazakh state-owned oil company, confirmed that the Matilda was en route to load oil from the Caspian Pipeline International Consortium (CPC) terminal near the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The company stated that "no crew members were injured," adding that initial assessments confirm the vessel remains seaworthy and shows no signs of serious structural damage. For its part, the Kazakh Ministry of Energy reported that the Delta Harmony's oil tanks were empty at the time of the attack.
Context of the Black Sea conflict
This incident comes at a time when the Black Sea is witnessing a marked escalation in military operations, with the strategic waterway having become a major battleground since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in February 2022. In recent weeks, attacks targeting port infrastructure and ships have increased, raising the level of risk to civilian commercial navigation in the region.
While neither Greek nor Kazakh officials have officially identified the perpetrators, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted an unnamed source accusing Ukraine of being behind the attacks, a claim Kyiv has yet to comment on. These incidents are part of a strategy targeting economic supply lines, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
Economic importance and energy impacts
This attack carries significant economic implications, given the importance of the Caspian Pipeline (CPC), which transports oil from Kazakhstan's oil fields through Russian territory to the port of Novorossiysk for export. Kazakhstan relies heavily on this route to export its oil to global markets, making any security threat in this region a source of concern for global energy markets.
Such incidents are expected to lead to higher marine insurance costs for commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea, which in turn could affect shipping rates and global supply chains, especially given the continued uncertainty and increasing security risks.
