Ukraine Drone Strikes Set Ablaze Key Russian Oil Terminal Amid Energy Crisis

A drone attack from Ukraine has caused a fire at the Ust-Luga port in Russia, a key export terminal for crude oil and other commodities. The attack occurred overnight on Friday, with firefighters working to extinguish the blaze. Governor Alexander Drozdenko of Leningrad region reported that all consequences of the attack have been eliminated, with no victims.

This is not the first time Ust-Luga has been targeted by Ukrainian drones; a previous attack in early July also damaged the port's infrastructure. The drone campaign aims to disrupt Russia's energy export revenues and fuel supply to the frontlines.

Russia has been hit by several recent attacks on its refineries, including Gazprom's Neftekhim Salavat complex in the Urals, which was targeted on Thursday. As a result of these attacks, Moscow has curbed fuel exports and even imported gasoline from India, with one cargo of 42,000 tons arriving earlier this month.

Russia's diesel and gasoil exports have plummeted to just 80,000 barrels per day in the first seven days of August, the lowest in many years. The country has been struggling with gasoline and diesel shortages due to Ukraine's drone attacks on refineries, forcing many large processing sites offline.