7 Ukrainian Drone Hits Chevron Oil Pipe Pump Station, Kyiv Pretexts Breaking Supply To Russian Military

UNSPLASH/Luis Ramirez ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - A drone strike hit a pump station in an oil pipeline in Russia. The attack resulted in a reduced flow from Kazakhstan to the world market pumped by Western companies including Chevron and Exxon Mobil.

The attack came a day before US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia to hold talks about ending the war in Ukraine.

The operator of the oil pump station, Casbian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), said the drone attacked Kropotkinskaya station in the southern region of Krasnodar, where work was halted to investigate the damage.

It is said that seven drones were deployed in the attack, which was referred to as acts of terrorism.

However, it was not specifically stated that the drone came from Ukraine.

However, an official at the Ukrainian SBU security service said Kyiv had attacked a nearby Ilsky pump station and oil refinery using drones.

At least 20 explosions were heard around the refinery, the official, who asked not to be named, the oil facility was used to supply the Russian military in a three-year war in Ukraine.

Ukraine's drones have repeatedly targeted Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, including in the Krasnodar region, but this Monday's attack will be the first against facilities involving major Western oil companies.

The CPC pipeline is Kazakhstan's main export route that supplies about 1 percent of world oil.

Shell and Eni from Italy are also among their shareholders, just like Russia.