LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Russia's oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has cut crude intake into its system by some 250,000 barrels per day after a Ukrainian drone attack on a key pumping station serving
Transneft Cuts Oil Intake After Drone Strike on Key Tatarstan Station
LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Russia's oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has cut crude intake into its system by some 250,000 barrels per day after a Ukrainian drone attack on a key pumping station serving major oil hubs and ports on Monday, two sources familiar with the situation said on Tuesday.
Market and Supply Impact
The reduction could heighten Russia's oil export problems as it grapples with lower shipments to key customers in India and Turkey amid stricter Western sanction, designed to push Moscow towards a peace deal with Ukraine.
Exports and Pipeline Flows
Russia's remaining oil flows to Europe - to refineries in Hungary and Slovakia - have also been suspended since the end of January.
On Monday, Ukrainian drones hit the key Kaleykino station in the Volga region of Tatarstan, which serves the Druzhba pipeline carrying Moscow's crude to Eastern Europe and to Russia's main western ports, according to a Ukrainian security official and industry sources.
Tatneft Shipments Cut
Producer and Company Impacts
The Transneft cuts mostly affected shipments from Tatarstan's producer Tatneft, one of the sources said.
KEY PUMPING STATION
Kaleykino Strike and Fire Damage
The drone strike caused a fire at the station, which has capacity to pump about 1 million barrels per day, near the city of Almetyevsk in Tatarstan, more than 1,200 km (750 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Kaleykino is a key point for West Siberian oil transport. Built in the 1970s, it is a critical junction for pumping and blending as oil of different qualities is mixed into the Urals medium-sulphur export blend and the sweet Siberian Light grade.
Effects on Druzhba and Western Ports
Pipelines from Kaleykino supply major western ports including Novorossiisk and Primorsk, as well as the Druzhba pipeline. The station is also an important hub for deliveries to Russian domestic refineries.
Urals Blend Volume and Quality Risks
The extent of the damage has yet to be assessed, but if severe it could affect Russian oil exports, including volumes and quality, the industry sources said.
Two 50,000-ton Storage Tanks Ablaze
Two 50,000-metric-ton storage tanks caught fire during the attack, one of them said.
Official Responses and Local Reports
Transneft and Tatneft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Almetyevsk administration said Russian air defences had shot down several drones over the district, with debris igniting a fire in an industrial zone. It did not mention the Druzhba pipeline or give details of any possible damage.
Regional Tensions with Hungary and Slovakia
The attack, the latest Ukrainian strike on the route, risks heightening tensions between Ukraine and its neighbours Hungary and Slovakia. Both have accused Kyiv of trying to block oil flows through the pipeline to their refineries.
Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended since January 27, when Kyiv says a Russian drone strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine.
Hungary Blocks EU Sanctions and Loan
Hungary blocked further EU sanctions on Moscow and a big loan for Kyiv on Monday, straining Europe's pro-Ukrainian consensus on the eve of the war's fourth anniversary.
(Editing by Mark Potter)
