Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Ust-Luga port again, sources say oil terminal hit
MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) – Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga on Tuesday for the fifth time in 10 days, and an oil loading terminal was hit, industry sources told Reuters, possibly adding to Russia’s difficulties in exporting crude oil.
Kiev stepped up attacks on Russia’s oil export infrastructure last month, launching the heaviest drone strikes of the more than four-year war against the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk.
At least 40 percent of Russia’s oil export capacity has been halted due to drone strikes, a controversial strike on a major pipeline and the seizure of tankers, according to Reuters calculations based on market data.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that some of Kiev’s allies were sending “signals” about the possibility of reducing long-range attacks on Russia’s oil sector as global energy prices rose due to the Iran war.
TRANSNEFT OIL TERMINAL HIT
Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko said that three people, including two children, were injured and many buildings were damaged in the night attacks.
In a message posted on Telegram at 04:09 GMT, it said air raid warnings in the area had been lifted but did not provide details about the damage to the port.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the attacks “terrorist attacks” and added that Russia was trying to protect its critical infrastructure.
“This does not mean that these facilities can be 100% protected against such terrorist attacks. But intensive work is being carried out, and this applies not only to the port, but also to all other critical infrastructure facilities,” he told reporters in a daily conference call. he said.
In the latest attack, Ukrainian drones hit crude oil loading facilities operated by Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft, three industry sources told Reuters. Transneft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Located on the southeastern coast of the Gulf of Finland, Ust-Luga is a sprawling complex of oil processing facilities and export terminals that process crude oil and petroleum products.
According to source-based data, the port exported 32.9 million metric tons of petroleum products last year. Generally, approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil are handled per day.
Officials say Ust-Luga was hit on March 22, 25, 27, 29 and 31, leading to the suspension of export operations.
(Reporting by Reuters. Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Mark Potter)
