A devastating air assault by Ukrainian drones has severely impacted Russia’s largest oil port, as reported by officials on Monday, with dramatic images capturing massive fireballs at the site.
This series of strikes has targeted extensive areas of Primorsk, a Baltic Sea port critical for processing over a million barrels of oil daily, a blow to markets already strained by rising prices amid conflicts involving Iran.
The drone attacks have hit fuel storage tanks within the port, which notoriously serves as a hub for Russia’s covert “shadow ships.” Satellite imagery reveals smoke billowing from several sections of this vital terminal.
In a bid to thwart the attack, Russian defense systems managed to intercept over 70 additional drones above the Leningrad region throughout the night, according to statements from the region’s governor, Alexander Drozdenko.
This isn’t Ukraine’s first assault on Primorsk, situated 62 miles from St. Petersburg. The port previously suffered a drone strike in September, which disrupted oil loading operations at the time.
Over the weekend, Ukraine has intensified its offensive on Russian infrastructure, escalating its campaign significantly.
The Ust-Luga port was targeted Sunday and operations were temporarily suspended, according to Reuters. It’s not clear if the port, also located in the Baltic region, suffered any substantial damage.
The attack came hours after a southwestern Russian oil refinery was targeted, according to Bloomberg.
Last week, Ukraine launched almost 300 drones at Russia in one of its largest barrages since the war began, targeting an oil depot in Saratov, which processes almost 5 million tons of oil a year.
The price of Russian Urals oil, which has been heavily shunned by West, has surged in recent weeks — from $45 a barrel to $76 — and this comes as the war in Iran rages.
With Post wires
