Ukraine Targets Key Russian Oil Export Infrastructure Near Baltic Sea in Coordinated Strikes

Moscow. Ukraine has launched a series of attacks on oil export infrastructure considered the backbone of Russia's economy. According to satellite imagery and verified videos, the Ukrainian military has targeted major Russian oil facilities near the Baltic Sea over the past week, with several plants still ablaze.

BBC Verify has confirmed intense attacks on at least three large oil depots in the Leningrad region near St. Petersburg, starting on March 23. These attacks targeted the Ust-Luga and Primorsk ports, as well as the Kirishi oil refinery, located approximately 800 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border.

Data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Finland indicates that the Primorsk and Ust-Luga ports accounted for 22% and 20% respectively of Russia's total oil exports in 2025. The impact of the Ukrainian strikes was so severe that not a single ship was loaded with oil from these three Baltic ports on March 26 and 27.

This marks the first time in two consecutive days that Russian oil exports have been halted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Satellite images show massive plumes of smoke rising from oil storage tanks at Primorsk and Ust-Luga, and extensive damage at the Kirishi refinery.

Verified analysis suggests that at least eight storage tanks at Primorsk, eight at Ust-Luga, and two at the Kirishi refinery were completely or partially destroyed. NASA's FIRMS technology indicated active fires in the Primorsk and Ust-Luga areas as of Monday morning.

However, Leningrad Governor Alexander Beglov claimed on Sunday that the fires were under control and there were no casualties. But video footage continues to show thick layers of smoke in the sky, challenging the Russian claims.

Robert Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian military's drone forces, confirmed that a special operation targeting these three oil export centers was conducted between March 23 and 28. He stated that the main objective of this attack was to neutralize Russia's oil refining capacity and its crude oil export infrastructure.

According to the Ukrainian military, the Kirishi refinery is one of Russia's three largest oil processing centers, which has been producing fuel necessary for the Russian invading forces.