Feb 25 • 00:07 UTC 🇺🇦 Ukraine Kyiv Independent

As Russia rained missiles on Ukrainian cities last fall, US issued warning to Kyiv over Black Sea drone strike, ambassador says

Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. revealed that the U.S. warned Ukraine about potential risks to American economic interests following Ukrainian drone strikes on a Russian port.

In a recent statement, Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, disclosed that the U.S. State Department had issued a warning to Ukraine in November 2025 regarding its drone strikes on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. This warning was raised amidst escalating tensions due to Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. The U.S. expressed concern that such strikes could negatively impact American economic interests, particularly concerning oil shipments connected to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, where major American company Chevron holds significant stakes.

The Ukrainian strikes on Novorossiysk, which included an initial attack on November 14 that severely damaged an oil terminal, marked a significant escalation in Ukraine's military operations against Russian assets in the Black Sea region. A subsequent attack on November 29 targeted the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's marine terminal, further complicating the security situation in the region and forcing the facility to halt oil shipments. Kyiv, however, did not officially confirm this latter attack, reflecting a degree of operational secrecy about its military capabilities and strategic objectives in the ongoing conflict.

These developments highlight the intricate balance Ukraine must navigate as it engages in military operations while being mindful of international economic repercussions. The warning from the U.S. underscores the complexities of alliances in wartime and suggests a potential rift or at least a cautious approach that might influence how Ukraine plans future operations against Russian infrastructure. The significance of American economic interests in the region cannot be understated, as they often shape geopolitical dynamics and responses to military actions on either side of the conflict.

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