Ukrainian Defense Forces Strike Oil Terminal in Ust-Luga: Tanks Damaged

On the night of April 7, 2023, the Ukrainian Defense Forces executed a successful attack on the Ust-Luga Oil Terminal, located in the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation. This information was confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which emphasized the strategic importance of this facility for the Russian economy and its financing of military aggression against Ukraine.

Preliminary reports indicate that three tanks belonging to Transneft-Baltika were confirmed damaged as a result of the attack. This terminal serves as a key element of Russia's oil product export infrastructure, with funds generated from its operations being utilized to support military actions against Ukraine. The General Staff noted that such strikes are part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling the resources that aid the aggressor.

Additionally, on April 5, during an attack on the Transneft-Port Primorsk, three RVSP-20000 type tanks were damaged, leading to the ignition of oil products. These tanks have a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters and are used for the long-term storage of oil and other flammable liquids. Such incidents reflect the severe consequences for the Russian oil and gas infrastructure, which has already suffered significant losses due to military actions.

On the same day, during a strike at the Lukoil-Nizhny Novgorodnefteorgsintez facility, elements of the primary crude oil processing installations AVT-6 and AVT-1 were damaged, as well as the 19/6 unit used in the production of oil bitumen. This indicates that Ukrainian forces are continuing targeted strikes on critical facilities that support the Russian military machine.

On April 7, the Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ reported a new attack on the Ust-Luga port, which occurred after information about the partial resumption of terminal operations. The Governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed the drone attack, noting that air defense was able to intercept 22 drones in the region. This highlights the active presence of Ukrainian forces in the airspace and their capability to strike even under challenging conditions.

On April 5, Bloomberg reported that after several days of suspension, Ust-Luga began to resume oil exports at a minimal level. However, in light of the recent attacks, the continued operation of the terminal may be at risk. At the end of March, the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed that long-range drones had successfully targeted the oil terminal infrastructure at the Ust-Luga port, with satellite images confirming that large fires were ongoing at the Primorsk and Ust-Luga ports.

On March 31, drones again attacked the Leningrad region, marking the fifth strike on the Ust-Luga port in the last ten days. According to Bloomberg, following a series of strikes, Russian ports in the Baltic Sea have reduced oil supply volumes to the lowest levels since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This indicates that Ukrainian forces continue to effectively impact the economic capabilities of the aggressor, inflicting serious damage on its infrastructure.