Russia Still Unable to Restore Oil Exports From Key Black Sea Port

Oil exports from Russia’s largest Black Sea port remain constrained after Ukrainian drone attacks damaged key infrastructure. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting on the global oil and gas market situation in Moscow on March 9, 2026. (Photo by Gavriil Grigorov / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Oil exports from Novorossiysk, Russia’s largest Black Sea port, remain limited after two of the terminal’s largest berths failed to resume operations following Ukrainian drone attacks last week, Bloomberg reported. Novorossiysk is Russia’s key Black Sea export hub, equipped with extensive infrastructure for shipping raw materials. During the first three months of the year, the port handled an average of nearly 540,000 barrels of crude oil per day, highlighting its importance to Russia’s oil industry. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . In peacetime, Novorossiysk accounted for around 25–35% of Russia’s total crude oil exports, underscoring its role as one of the most strategically important nodes in the country’s energy infrastructure . However, drone attacks carried out about a week ago on the Sheskharis terminal forced oil loading at Novorossiysk to stop for several days, according to Bloomberg. Based on Copernicus satellite imagery and sources familiar with shipping data, berths No. 1 and No. 1a at the Sheskharis oil terminal remain empty and idle as designed to service only large tankers. Oil is currently being loaded only at berth No. 2, which can accommodate smaller Aframax‑class vessels, as well as at berths No. 6 and No. 7, which are used to export petroleum products. Speaking during a closed‑door briefing on April 10, Vladyslav Vlasyuk, Ukraine’s presidential representative on sanctions policy, said the strikes have significantly reduced Moscow’s export revenues. Other Topics of Interest UN Warns Hormuz Blockade Could Trigger Global Food Crisis The UN says a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could drive food inflation and shortages, risking a crisis similar to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Ukrainian estimates cited by Vlasyuk, Russia has lost about $1.7 billion due to its inability to ship certain volumes of crude oil through Novorossiysk and other affected ports. Any additional revenue Moscow might have expected from higher global oil prices or easing export restrictions has been offset by these losses. As a result, the continued shutdown of Novorossiysk’s largest berths has so far prevented Russia from fully restoring oil exports from its key Black Sea port. Veronika Sukhanych is a political analyst with a foundation in governance, legal research, and international policy. Kyiv-born and educated in comparative politics, her background includes research on global financial institutions, responsible AI governance, and security policy.