Source: Planet Labs PBC/AFP
A Ukrainian drone attack struck a major Russian oil port near the Finnish border on Monday, triggering a large fire at the facility and marking another escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Satellite imagery showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the oil terminal in Primorsk, a key port on the Gulf of Finland located approximately 50 kilometers from European Union and NATO territory.
Regional authorities confirmed that a fuel tank at the site had been damaged, causing the fire. Despite Russian claims that more than 70 drones were intercepted in the area, the attack succeeded in hitting critical infrastructure.
Ukraine’s General Staff stated that the strike targeted essential fuel and energy facilities, including storage tanks and oil-loading infrastructure at the Primorsk terminal. Preliminary reports indicate that multiple cylindrical fuel tanks were impacted.
Primorsk is one of Russia’s most important oil export hubs, handling around 60 million tonnes of oil annually. Ukrainian officials emphasized that revenues from these exports play a crucial role in financing Russia’s military operations.
The strike is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine to target Russian energy and military infrastructure deep inside its territory. In a separate incident, Ukrainian forces reportedly hit an oil refinery in Ufa, approximately 1,400 kilometers from the frontline, causing another fire.
These attacks come in response to intensified Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid. Moscow has launched near-daily drone and missile attacks, leading to widespread blackouts and leaving millions without electricity during the winter months.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 251 drones overnight, of which 234 were intercepted and destroyed.
As both sides continue to exchange long-range strikes, the targeting of critical energy infrastructure highlights a new phase of the war, with growing implications for regional security and global energy markets.
