Zelensky says Ukraine struck Novorossiysk port, tanker loading Kazakh oil damaged

September 9, 2026 at 05:23 PM2 min

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine struck the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk on Tuesday, damaging a tanker loading Kazakh oil from the Tengiz field. The Seaviolet tanker caught fire but remained afloat and completed loading at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, according to Bloomberg. The attack came despite an August agreement in which Ukraine reportedly promised Washington to avoid strikes on CPC infrastructure.

Key Facts

The Seaviolet tanker was loading oil from Kazakhstan's Tengiz field at the CPC terminal's VPU-3 offshore mooring when it was damaged.
The vessel remained afloat and completed loading after the attack, and the VPU equipment itself was not damaged.
Zelensky said the strike hit a naval base, an oil-loading terminal, military harbor facilities, warships, and Kalibr missile carriers.
In August, Bloomberg reported that Ukraine had agreed at Washington's request to avoid strikes on CPC infrastructure and vessels not under Ukrainian sanctions or carrying Russian oil.

The Attack

A drone attack struck the port of Novorossiysk on the morning of September 9, 2026. Regional authorities reported that a fuel oil terminal caught fire after the raid. Bloomberg reported that the Seaviolet tanker was damaged while moored at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's VPU-3 offshore loading unit. The tanker was loading oil from Kazakhstan's Tengiz field at the time. The vessel remained afloat and was able to complete loading, and the VPU equipment itself was not damaged.

Zelensky's Statement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the attack in a Telegram post. He said Ukraine was responding to Russia's daily strikes 'effectively and practically across the entire geography.' Zelensky listed the naval base, an oil-loading terminal, military harbor facilities, warships, and Kalibr missile carriers as targets. He attached a video recording to the post.

August Agreement

In August, Bloomberg reported on agreements between Washington and Kyiv regarding CPC infrastructure. According to the report, Ukraine promised at the request of the US administration to refrain from strikes on CPC infrastructure and vessels heading to the terminal. The reported exception applied to vessels under Ukrainian sanctions, those carrying Russian oil, or those belonging to Russian legal entities.