Ukraine Reportedly Strikes Russian Port of Ust-Luga, Intensifying Attacks on Russian Oil and Gas Infrastructure

On the night of April 7, Ukrainian military forces executed a strike on the Russian port of Ust-Luga, located in the Leningrad region, according to reports from Russian Telegram channels. This attack is the latest in a series of Ukrainian long-range strikes targeting critical oil terminals in Russia along the Baltic and Black Sea coasts over the past few weeks, as Kyiv seeks to undermine the revenue that Russia generates from soaring global oil prices.

The recent assault occurred just a week after Kyiv conducted a large-scale attack on oil terminals in the region, including Ust-Luga, which had reportedly been hit at least five times between March 22 and March 31. Photos and videos circulating on social media appear to show explosions in the vicinity of the port, which reportedly began around 5 AM local time, according to accounts from local residents.

Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated that 22 Ukrainian drones were shot down during the attack, although he did not specify the target of the strike. However, independent sources such as the Kyiv Independent have yet to verify these claims or the statements made by Russian officials.

The extent of the damage remains unclear at this time. The Ukrainian military has not commented on the reported strike. Ust-Luga is one of Russia's largest ports on the Baltic Sea and serves as a vital hub for the export of crude oil and petroleum products. Situated west of St. Petersburg, far from the Ukrainian border, the port plays a crucial role in generating revenue for the state budget.

This latest attack came just hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed an energy ceasefire with Russia through intermediaries from the United States. "If Russia is willing to stop strikes on our energy infrastructure, we will be ready to respond in kind. This proposal has been communicated to the Russian side through the Americans," Zelensky stated in an evening address.

The ceasefire proposal emerged at a time when Ukrainian officials acknowledged that foreign allies had urged Kyiv to suspend drone attacks on Russian oil refineries due to the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Israel in Iran. However, Kyiv has not yet shown any willingness to reduce its attacks without a formal agreement.

Just the night before, on April 6, Ukrainian drones targeted an oil terminal in the southern Russian port city of Novorossiysk. Six out of seven oil loading platforms at the terminal, which are used for loading and unloading tankers, were reported to be damaged, according to a source from the Kyiv Independent. The attack also impacted key ground infrastructure, including a pipeline checkpoint and an oil metering station.

Reuters reported on March 25, citing its estimates based on market data, that at least 40% of Russia's oil transport capacity had been halted following repeated strikes by Ukrainian drones.