Kazakhstan opens diplomatic channels with Ukraine after drone attack on key oil pipeline

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to engage in diplomatic discussions with Ukraine following a drone strike on a Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) oil pumping station.

The government believes such issues should be resolved through diplomacy to prevent similar incidents in the future, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakhstani media.

Akan Rakhmetullin, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stated: “We are aware of the incident. The Ministry of Energy has issued a statement confirming that, despite the attacks, oil pumping continues at the same volume. Naturally, we will engage with the Ukrainian side, hold discussions, and there will be meetings. There will definitely be contacts, either here or in Kyiv. These matters must be resolved diplomatically to avoid such occurrences in the future.”

The Kazakh authorities emphasized the importance of dialogue in addressing the issue and preventing escalation.

Note that, on February 17, drone strike has targeted a pumping station on a Russian oil pipeline, disrupting flows from Kazakhstan to global markets, including supplies managed by Western firms like Chevron and Exxon Mobil. The attack occurred at the Kropotkinskaya station in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, with operations paused for damage assessment.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which operates the pipeline, labelled the strike as terrorism, but did not confirm the origin of the drones. However, Ukrainian officials claimed responsibility, stating that Kyiv's drones hit both the pumping station and the nearby Ilsky oil refinery, with multiple explosions reported.

This marks the first attack on facilities involving Western energy firms, though Ukrainian drones have previously targeted Russian energy infrastructure.

By Aghakazim Guliyev