Fires rage at key export infrastructure
Satellite imagery and verified videos show that Russia oil strikes by Ukraine have repeatedly targeted major export infrastructure near the Baltic Sea over the past week, leaving several facilities burning for days.
BBC Verify confirmed that at least three oil sites in Russia’s Leningrad region have been attacked since 23 March, including the ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk, as well as the inland Kirishi oil refinery.
Repeated attacks and reported injuries
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s drone forces commander Robert Brovdi said Ust-Luga had been struck again the previous night “to keep the fire going”.
Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that three people, including two children, were injured during the attack, adding that 38 drones had been shot down.
Major share of exports affected
According to analysis by the Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea), around 20% of Russia’s oil exports pass through Ust-Luga and 22% through Primorsk.
Recent data shows that no ships were loaded with oil at any of Russia’s three Baltic ports on 26 and 27 March – the first such two-day halt since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Satellite images reveal extent of damage
Satellite images show large plumes of smoke rising from burning facilities in Primorsk on 24 March, alongside fires at Ust-Luga and extensive damage at Kirishi on 27 March.
BBC Verify analysis indicates:
- Primorsk: at least eight storage tanks destroyed or damaged
- Ust-Luga: at least eight tanks destroyed or damaged
- Kirishi: at least two storage tanks damaged
Nasa’s FIRMS satellite system, which detects heat signatures, showed fires still active at Primorsk and Ust-Luga on Monday.
Strategic targeting of energy infrastructure
Ukraine has indicated the Russia oil strikes are aimed at weakening Moscow’s energy infrastructure. Brovdi said operations targeting the Baltic facilities began on 23 March to “demilitarise Russia’s oil arteries”.
Ukraine’s military has described the Kirishi refinery as one of the country’s largest oil-processing plants, producing fuel that supports Russia’s armed forces.
Economic and global energy impact
Reuters calculations suggest that at least 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity was halted on 25 March following the initial strikes.
Crea estimates Russia earned around £7.1bn from oil exports in the final three weeks of March, with prices rising sharply due to disruptions linked to wider geopolitical tensions.
Pressure from allies amid energy concerns
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said allies have urged Kyiv to scale back attacks on Russia’s energy sector due to concerns over the global energy crisis.
He added that such strikes would only stop if Russia ceased targeting Ukraine’s own energy infrastructure.
Analysts say Ukraine may be attempting to offset increased Russian revenues, though continued strikes could face pressure from international partners seeking to stabilise global oil prices.
Source: BBC
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