Ukraine has carried out a drone strike on a major oil pipeline hub in southern Russia, targeting critical infrastructure used to transport crude exports from the region.
The attack reportedly hit the pipeline terminal in Tikhoretsk, which hosts a significant oil storage depot and pumping station. According to sources familiar with the situation, the strike triggered a large fire at the facility.
The Tikhoretsk station plays a vital role in Russia’s oil logistics network, serving as a key distribution point for crude transported through several pipelines to Black Sea export terminals, including those in Novorossiysk and Tuapse.
The pumping station channels crude received from four main pipelines toward these ports, which are central to Russia’s oil export operations in the region.
The latest strike could further disrupt shipments from Russia’s Black Sea export corridor. Oil flows from the region have already faced pressure from additional sanctions imposed by the United States and repeated drone attacks on energy infrastructure near Novorossiysk.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil terminal in Novorossiysk, causing a fire at the storage facility. The port is a crucial loading point for a significant share of Russia’s Black Sea crude exports.
The area is also close to facilities operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which manages crude shipments from large oilfields in Kazakhstan.
Recent attacks on energy infrastructure, coupled with steep discounts on Russian crude, have contributed to a decline in Russia’s oil export earnings. According to the International Energy Agency, revenues from Russian oil exports fell to their lowest level since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The agency reported that Russia’s crude and petroleum product exports dropped by about 850,000 barrels per day to 6.6 million barrels per day in February, while total export revenues declined by $1.5 billion month-on-month to $9.5 billion, according to its March oil market report.