Russia’s Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major export terminals, suspended loadings of crude oil and refined products on Wednesday after large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks triggered a blaze, sources told Reuters.
The strikes mark one of the most significant attacks so far on Russia’s oil export infrastructure during the four-year war, and are likely to heighten uncertainty in global oil markets, already strained by conflict in the Middle East.
Thick plumes of black smoke rose into the sky, according to unverified videos circulating on Telegram. Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported the smoke was visible across the Gulf of Finland from dozens of miles away.
Earlier on Wednesday, Russian officials said a fire had broken out at Ust-Luga following a Ukrainian drone attack. Nearby Primorsk has also been targeted in recent days.
Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and export routes in recent weeks, aiming to undermine Moscow’s war economy as U.S.-brokered peace talks have stalled.
Both Ust-Luga and Primorsk, located on the Gulf of Finland, were also forced to suspend exports on Sunday following similar attacks, although loadings partially resumed on Monday, Reuters reported.
Primorsk, with export capacity exceeding 1 million barrels per day, is a key outlet for Russia’s flagship Urals crude and high-quality diesel.
Sources said Ust-Luga exported 32.9 million metric tonnes of oil products last year, while Primorsk shipped 16.8 million tonnes.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said the fire at Ust-Luga followed a drone attack across the region. No casualties were reported.
One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the terminal had been sealed off and storage reservoirs were ablaze.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had shot down 389 Ukrainian drones overnight across the country, including over the Moscow region.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East as the rest of the world battle...
Russia’s Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major export terminals, suspended loadings of crude oil and refined products on Wednesday aft...
A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid arrived in Havana on Tuesday morning (24 March) amid a U.S. oil blockade t...
The UK government is to trial social media bans, curfews and app time limits in the homes of 300 teenagers, as part o...
Hungary will gradually halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries resume via the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said o...
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East as the rest of the world battle with the consequences of the war. Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of the tensions in the Middle East.
A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid arrived in Havana on Tuesday morning (24 March) amid a U.S. oil blockade that has dealt a major blow to the island's already ailing energy infrastructure.
Hungary will gradually halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries resume via the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday.
NASA announced on Tuesday it has cancelled plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and will instead use components from the project to build a $20 billion base on the moon's surface, while also planning to send a nuclear-powered spacecraft to Mars.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was talking to the right people in Iran to make a deal on Tuesday (24 March), as Pakistan's Prime Minister offered to host peace talks between the two countries to bring about an end to the conflict.
Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East as the rest of the world battle with the consequences of the war. Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of the tensions in the Middle East.
As conflict continues to unsettle the Middle East, airlines are being forced to make difficult, fast-moving decisions - redrawing flight paths and searching for safe skies. Amid this uncertainty, Azerbaijan has emerged as a crucial gateway linking Europe and Asia.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen resigned on Wednesday after her coalition suffered a heavy election defeat, triggering negotiations over who will form the next government.
The UK government is to trial social media bans, curfews and app time limits in the homes of 300 teenagers, as part of a wider consultation on restricting under-16s’ access to platforms and improving online safety.
Hungary will gradually halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries resume via the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's Social Democrats were headed for their worst election outcome in more than a century on Tuesday, as migration and welfare concerns obscured broad support for her defiant stance toward Washington over Greenland.
British police said they arrested two men in connection with the suspected antisemitic arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in north London earlier this week.
A drone has flown into Estonian airspace from Russia. It happened early on Wednesday morning and slammed into a chimney at a local power station, the Baltic country's Internal Security Service told public broadcaster ERR.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment