MOSCOW, March 25 – Ukrainian drone strikes ignited a fire at one of Russia’s most important oil export terminals along the Baltic Sea, Russian authorities confirmed Wednesday.
The attack targeted Ust-Luga, a crucial energy hub that handles significant portions of Russia’s oil exports. According to Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northern Leningrad region, the blaze erupted following widespread Ukrainian drone strikes throughout the area. Officials reported no injuries from the incident.
Ukraine has intensified its aerial assault campaign against Russian petroleum facilities and shipping routes in recent weeks, aiming to cripple Moscow’s energy-dependent war funding.
This marks the second major disruption to Russian oil operations in recent days. Both Ust-Luga and nearby Primorsk terminals on the Gulf of Finland had temporarily halted oil and crude shipments Sunday due to earlier drone attacks, though operations resumed Monday, according to Reuters.
The full scope of damage to the port facility remains unclear. Unconfirmed footage circulating on Russian social media platforms showed large flames shooting into the darkness. An anonymous source informed Reuters that authorities had cordoned off the terminal area and that storage tanks were burning.
Russian defense officials claimed their forces intercepted 389 Ukrainian drones during overnight operations across the country, including strikes targeting the Moscow region.
