Russian officials confirmed that the port of Ust-Luga, located near St. Petersburg on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, was hit on the night of March 29. The governor of the Leningrad region said that 27 UAVs were shot down, the port was damaged but there were no casualties.
The Ukrainian side quickly took responsibility. The SBU security agency affirmed that Russia's oil and gas facilities are not only of economic significance but also a "financial blood vessel" that feeds the war machine.
Notably, this is the 3rd time in a week that Ust-Luga has been attacked. Satellite images previously showed columns of smoke and fire rising from the port area, which not only exports oil but also treats coal, fertilizers and iron ore. Another large port, Primorsk, was also hit by a similar blow a few days earlier.
This series of successive attacks takes place right at the time when world oil prices are rising. Export routes through the Baltic such as Ust-Luga and Primorsk are important gateways to bring Russian oil to the world market.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that about 60% of Ust-Luga's export capacity has been neutralized. He also sent a tough signal that attacks will continue if Russia does not stop targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
We can stop if they stop" - Mr. Zelensky said, referring to Russia's prolonged airstrikes throughout the winter targeting Ukraine's electricity and gas systems.
Kiev's long-range UAV campaign is also causing widespread concern in the region. Estonia and Latvia recorded UAVs falling into their territory, while the Finnish Air Force had to deploy fighters to track suspected drone flying targets. A UAV identified as Ukrainian crashed near the city of Kouvola, but caused no damage.
