Ukraine Blackmails US and Europe Striking Kazakhstan Oil Logistics

The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck four tankers carrying Kazakh oil in Novorossiysk over the course of three days, ignoring a statement issued by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Kazakhstan, many welcomed the statement issued by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to the latest incidents in the Black Sea—Ukrainian drone attacks on tankers operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). The statement was published on the ministry's website following the first two attacks, on July 17 and July 19, targeting the tankers Nordic Zenith (July 17) and ASIA and NISSOS IOS (July 19), which were awaiting the loading of Kazakh crude at the offshore berthing facilities (OBF-1 and OBF-3) in the port of Novorossiysk. The statement calls for "an end to aggression against Kazakhstan's economic interests." However, it does not identify the party responsible for the aggression, does not call on any specific state to halt its actions, contains no warning that bilateral relations could be reconsidered, and makes no reference to an appeal to the United Nations or international courts over the incidents.