Ust-Luga Ablaze Again as 54 Ukrainian Drones Hit Russia’s Key Baltic Oil Port

On August 14, Ukrainian forces launched a drone strike against Russia's vital Baltic Sea oil port of Ust-Luga, resulting in a fire at the facility, according to Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko. The port, Russia's largest on the Baltic Sea and a crucial hub for oil and fuel exports, was hit by 54 drones, causing significant damage.

Drozdenko informed Telegram that emergency crews were working to control the blaze, though he did not disclose any injuries. The attack lasted approximately four hours and concluded at 6:48 a.m. Moscow time.

Ust-Luga, second only to Primorsk in Russia's Baltic oil-export capacity, handles crude oil, fuel oil, jet fuel, and gas oil. In 2025, the port facilitated the export of around 700,000 barrels of oil daily. This is the sixth attack on Ust-Luga in 2025, highlighting Ukraine's persistent campaign against Russia's oil-export infrastructure.

Prior to this strike, Ust-Luga faced continuous attacks in late March, with drones targeting oil tankers and storage facilities, leading to a major fire and disruptions at the Novatek facility. Subsequent attacks in early April further crippled operations at the port.

The economic ramifications of these strikes have been substantial, with estimates suggesting that Ukraine's five drone assaults on Ust-Luga and Primorsk in early March cost Russian energy exporters approximately $970 million in lost revenue. Earlier this month, Ukraine also targeted the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia's largest oil terminal on the Black Sea, which exports 600,000-700,000 barrels of oil daily.

This persistent drone campaign aims to diminish Moscow's energy revenues and disrupt logistical support for the war in Ukraine.