On September 24, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Ukrainian attack on the headquarters of the Caspian pipeline Consortium (CPC) oil pipeline operator in the port city of Novorossiysk, Black Sea, was not only a terrorist act against Russian civilian facilities, but also a " messaging to Europe".
Ms. Zakharova warned the European Union (EU) not to be surprised if in the future Kiev expands its attack range to Europes energy and military infrastructure.
Kiev is hitting civil infrastructure, power facilities, and airports. This is a signal to the EU: Don't be surprised if Ukraine next time may target airports, oil depots, and gas pipelines right on European territory," she emphasized.
According to TASS, on the night of September 24, Novorossiysk - a strategic port city of Russia - suffered an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Ukraine. The UAVs crashed into the city center, including an area near the Novorossiysk hotel.
As a result, at least 2 people were killed, 12 people were injured, more than 20 vehicles were severely damaged, and 7 residential buildings, including high-rise apartments, were affected. The Novorossiysk Hotel was also partially destroyed. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency in response.
Notably, among the targets attacked was the Caspian pipeline Consortium - a strategic pipeline for transporting oil from Kazakhstan through Russia to international markets. This is an important oil transport route, directly related to the energy supply to many European countries.
According to observers, Ms. Zakharova's speech reflects Russia's tough stance: If the EU continues to support Kiev in terms of weapons and technology, the risk of Europe's infrastructure becoming a target will increase.
Over the past months, Ukraine has continuously increased long-range UAV campaigns against oil depots, ports, and airports in Russia, causing both military and civilian damage. The Novorossiysk case is considered a notable escalation, because it is not only an economic - oil and gas center, but also a strategic gateway to the Black Sea.
In the context of the EU relying on many energy transport routes through Russia and the Caspian region, Moscow's warning has raised public concern. If similar strikes occur in Europe's energy infrastructure, the EU's fragile energy security could be severely affected.
Ms. Zakharova emphasized that "the West itself has allowed Kiev to escalate, and they will have to bear the consequences if their infrastructure is threatened".
The case in Novorossiysk once again shows that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is not limited to the Donbass battlefield, but the risk of spreading to the energy sector, even the security of the EU bloc.
