Recent satellite imagery has captured significant fires at oil terminals in the Russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, located in the Leningrad region. These incidents are attributed to drone strikes conducted by Ukrainian defense forces, which ignited new storage tanks at the Novatek-Ust-Luga facility.
On March 29, Ukrainian forces targeted energy infrastructure in Russia, with subsequent satellite images revealing that tanks at the Novatek-Ust-Luga plant, previously unharmed in earlier attacks on March 24, were now ablaze. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, this facility is crucial for producing petroleum products, including kerosene and diesel, for export.
In Primorsk, satellite images indicate that oil storage tanks belonging to the state-owned company Transneft are still burning after being hit in earlier assaults. Damage assessments show that at least eight of the eighteen tanks have been affected. Archived data from the port’s website indicates that each tank can hold up to 50,000 tons of oil.
Estimates from the news outlet Schemes suggest that the total value of the oil stored in the damaged tanks could reach approximately $160 million, based on current Urals crude prices.
Prior to these events, Ukrainian drones had targeted a significant oil export hub in the Baltic Sea at the Primorsk port, resulting in fires and damage to several tanks. Reports from Russian Telegram channels on the night of March 29 confirmed the attack on Ust-Luga, where a large fire broke out. Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko acknowledged the incident, stating that emergency services were on-site to manage the situation. He also noted that Russian air defense reportedly shot down 31 drones over the region that night.
Satellite images show extensive fires at Russian oil terminals following Ukrainian drone strikes. The attacks have severely impacted storage facilities, highlighting ongoing military actions in the region.
Source: Schemes