North Asia

Poland shoots down drones It was the first time that a NATO member fired shots in Russia's conflict with Ukraine. Poland reported that 19 objects entered its airspace as part of a Russian air strike on Ukraine. It said it shot down any that were a danger. Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, said that he activated Article 4 of NATO's Treaty. This allows members to demand consultations from their allies. Tusk said, "We're dealing with a provocation of a very large scale." "We are prepared to repel such provocation." "The situation is grave, and there's no doubt that...

The local mayor of Wyryki, in eastern Poland, told TVP Info that a drone or other similar object hit a residential building but no one was hurt. Poland destroyed drones which entered its airspace on Wednesday during a Russian attack on western Ukraine. The NATO member called the incursion an "act of aggression". TVP Info reported that Wyryki Mayor Bernard Blaszczuk said, "I received a call at 6:45 am from a worker in the office saying something had fallen." "A drone, or missile, definitely hit the rooftop; we don’t know at this time... He said that the police were providing...

According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Poland closed four airports, including the main Chopin Airport at Warsaw, on Wednesday after Russia launched drone attacks near the border with neighbouring Ukraine. In a posting on X, the Polish armed forces stated that military aircraft were activated in order to ensure safety of airspace. However, there was no confirmation from the command as to whether any airports were closed. The military's operational control posted on X that "Polish aircraft and allied aircraft operate in our airspace while ground-based radar reconnaissance and air defence systems have been brought up to the...

Two traders with knowledge of the situation said that the crude oil loadings at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC's) marine terminal in Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka, near Novorossiisk, have remained steady so far this month at 1.6 million barrels a day, according to a preliminary export schedule. The revised CPC Blend loading plan for September has not changed from the provisional schedule as the expected disruptions to exports due to an oil spill at the mooring port did not occur. CPC suspended its operations on August 29 due to an accident that occurred during a loading process and a spill of oil...

The differentials between Brent and Urals crude were not much changed on Friday. However, Russia's oil plans for September could be revised after a drone attack was carried out on the Rosneft oil refinery in Ryazan. Two industry sources said that Ryazan had suspended operations at the CDU-6, its main crude distillation unit due to an fire caused by a UAV attack. India's finance minister stated on Friday that it will continue to purchase Russian oil if it is economical. This was despite the Trump Administration's decision on Friday to impose high import tariffs on Indian products due in part...

The differential between Brent and Urals crudes held steady on Tuesday, but Russia intends to reduce crude oil exports out of its western ports in September to about 1.9 million barrels per day from around 2.0 million bpd. Calculations showed that daily shipments of Urals, KEBCO, and Siberian Light grades in Primorsk Ust-Luga, and Novorossiisk should fall by about 6% from month to month. Two sources familiar with shipping data said that Russia would deliver oil to Brunei for the first ever via the Northern Sea Route in September. This will expand its export reach by using the strategic Arctic...

The difference between Brent and Urals crudes dated on Monday was stable, while Caspian Pipeline Consortium said that two of their three oil moorings were now operational. CPC, which transports about 1.5% global oil, has announced that it has brought back one of its Black Sea docking points after maintenance to offset the risk of export restrictions. CPC announced late last week that it had shut down the second oil mooring due to an oil leak, limiting terminal export capacity to only one mooring. This mooring is not capable of handling the full export volume. CPC announced that its third...

The Kremlin claimed that European powers are hindering U.S. president Donald Trump's attempts to achieve peace in Ukraine. It also said that Russia will continue its operations in Ukraine until it sees real signs that Kyiv is ready for peace. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters from Russian state-run media that the "European Party of War" continued to impede U.S. efforts and Russian efforts in Ukraine. Peskov stated, "We are prepared to solve the problem through diplomatic and political means." Peskov said, "We have not seen Kyiv reciprocating in this regard." We will continue our special military operation." After eight...

Trade sources and shipping data show that freight rates for Russian crude oil shipments to India from Baltic ports have increased in August. This is due to new European Union sanctions as well as an increase in demand for tankers following higher loading volumes during this month. Costs of shipping Urals crude oil from Baltic ports like Ust-Luga, to India have risen to $6 million for a one-way trip. This is up from $5.3 to $5.5 millions in July and August. The rates for similar shipments by Suezmax tanks, which are capable of carrying 140,000 metric tonnes, from Russia's Black...

Calculations and traders' statements show that the differential between Brent and Urals crude eased on Tuesday due to lower prices in India and firmer freight rates to Asia, as well as lower prices of the grade. The export plan for Russia’s western ports was also revised upwards. Three people with knowledge of the situation said that Russia increased its crude oil export plans for Priomorsk and Ust-Luga ports in August by 200,000 barrels a day from the original schedule, after Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted refinery operation and released more crude to be shipped. Due to the ongoing strikes and changing...

Four market sources reported on Monday that the Russian energy company Novatek would reduce its naphtha exports, and may resume shipments to international markets of stable gas condensate due to an inferno at their complex located in Ust-Luga port. The regional governor stated on his Telegram account that debris from a destroyed Ukrainian UAV caused an early morning fire at Novatek’s Ust-Luga Terminal on 24 August. According to market sources, the complex was closed on Sunday. Two sources say that while the full impact of the fire is not yet known, at least one unit of processing was damaged. According...

Ukraine's largest farming union demanded on Monday that the government lift the wartime ban on imports of nitrogen fertilisers into the country’s maritime ports. They warned that the shortages could affect the yields of the key grain crop in the country. Ukraine banned the import of explosive nitrogen fertilisers at seaports when it began its war with Russia. The UAC Farmers' Union said that while nitrogen fertilisers are still available for import via land or river ports, shortages have become worse during a season of high demand. The UAC stated that the key factor is the prohibition on the importation...

Ukraine's Energy Ministry said that Russian forces attacked a thermal power plant in the Kyiv area as part of a nighttime attack. This caused localised blackouts, and gas shortages. The strikes came a day following the largest air strike by Moscow in its three-and a-half-year war against Ukraine. The ministry posted a message on Telegram saying that the goal was to "cause even more hardship for the peaceful population in Ukraine", and to leave Ukrainian homes and hospitals, kindergartens, schools and other institutions without heat and light. On Monday, rescuers and technical workers were on the scene. The Russian defence...

Ukrainian officials reported on Sunday that Russia had launched the largest air strike of the war against Ukraine over the weekend, causing the main government building in central Kyiv to catch fire and killing four people including an infant. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, said that the drone barrage and missiles killed four people, and caused extensive damage in the north, the south, and the east of the nation, including Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Righ, Odesa and Sumy, and Chernihiv. Zelenskiy, in a recent post on X.com, said that such killings are a deliberate act and a war prolongation. He...

Robert Brovdi said that the Ukraine had attacked the Druzhba pipeline in the Russian region of Bryansk, causing "comprehensive damage" to the oil pipeline. The reports could not be independently verified. Russia has not yet responded. The transit pipeline provides Russian oil to Hungary, Slovakia and other European Union countries, who continue to purchase energy from Russia even after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv claims that its attacks on Russian energy targets are a response to Moscow’s continuing attacks against Ukraine. They aim to undermine their adversary’s war effort. In recent weeks, Ukrainian attacks on the pipeline that runs...

On Friday, President Vladimir Putin called on leaders of the aerospace industry to continue their efforts to develop booster engines for space launch vehicle and to build on Russia’s long-standing reputation as an innovator in space technology. Putin, who spent the last week in China, and the Russian port of Vladivostok in the far east, flew south to Samara where he met with industry experts and toured Kuznetsov Design Bureau aircraft engine manufacturing facility. According to Russian news agencies, Putin stated that Russia was a leader in the development and growth of the aerospace sector. The agencies reported that Putin...

Energy chief of the European Union said on Friday that the EU is committed to its plan to phase out Russian crude oil by 2028. He added that Washington had not pressed him to move this deadline forward. White House official: As U.S. president Donald Trump works to end Russia's conflict with Ukraine, Trump told European leaders to stop buying Russian crude oil on Thursday, but did not specify a specific date. Fuel revenues, as Russia's most lucrative exports have helped Moscow fund its war. The European Union is currently negotiating legal proposals that will phase out EU imports of...

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that Ukraine will continue to respond to Russian aggressions against its energy infrastructure despite criticisms from Slovakia and Hungary who have experienced Russian oil supply interruptions. Zelenskiy said this after his first high-level meeting with Slovak Premier Robert Fico, with whom he had clashed in the past over Russian energy supplies. Slovakia and Hungary have continued to purchase Russian oil and gas, even though other European Union nations cut ties with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. The EU invests in energy routes. Slovakia and Hungary, however, say that...

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said that thousands of troops may be sent to Ukraine as part the security guarantees offered by allies after Russia's war against his country is over. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries have pledged to provide Ukraine with post-war security guarantees including an international force on the land, sea and air. Macron said initially that these countries would deploy to Ukraine but later stated that some would provide guarantees whilst remaining outside Ukraine. For example, by helping train and equip Kyiv’s forces. Zelenskiy told reporters after a meeting with Antonio...

Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said on Friday that the European Union would be happy to have President Donald Trump support its plans to stop purchasing Russian oil. These purchases are used to fund Moscow's war against Ukraine. The European Union has begun negotiating with Russia to end its decades-old energy relationship. A White House official confirmed that U.S. president Donald Trump called European leaders on Thursday and told them to stop buying Russian oil. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are still ongoing. Jorgensen is in charge of the EU's Energy Policy. He said that he was not under any...

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that he will meet with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and Slovak prime minister Robert Fico to discuss energy matters on Friday. Roman Andarak, Ukraine's deputy minister of energy, said on Friday in Copenhagen that Zelenskiy would be expected to discuss with Fico a phased out Russian oil delivery via Ukraine during their meeting. Slovakia relies heavily on oil supplies from Russia via Druzhba, whose infrastructure Ukrainian drones attacked recently. This caused repeated interruptions in supply, which prompted a furious response from Bratislava. Ukraine has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion...

Rosneft Germany (the refinery's biggest shareholder) said that oil flows through the Druzhba pipe to Germany's PCK refinery are expected to return back to normal by the week's end following repairs to damages. Last month, Ukrainian drones hit an oil pumping facility in Russia's Tambov Region, causing a disruption of supply via the Druzhba pipe. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the PCK refinery in Schwedt in northeastern Germany is partly supplied by crude oil from Kazakhstan. Burkhard Woelki, a spokesperson for Rosneft Deutschland, said that the company imports 120,00 tons of oil per month from Kazakhstan. He added that...

The Russian state news agency RIA reported that Russia and China had agreed on the route of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline and the volumes of gas to be supplied, citing Energy Ministry Sergei Tsivilev. The signed memorandum states that the pipeline will pass through Mongolia, and it is estimated to deliver 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. A binding memorandum was signed by Russia and China during Putin's China visit. However, little is known about key details and Gazprom has said that the pricing of the project still needs to be decided. Tsivilev stated, "We need...

Two sources familiar with shipping data said that Russia would deliver oil to Brunei for the first ever via the Northern Sea Route in September. This will expand its export reach by using the strategic Arctic route. NSR shipments were limited until now to China because of its proximity to Russia’s Far East. Moscow has actively promoted the route to partners such as India and the U.S., claiming that it is cheaper and quicker than shipping crude oil through the Suez Canal. One source confirmed that the tanker Latur was currently on its way to Muara, Brunei, carrying Arctic heavy...