Drone Assault Targets Ust-Luga Port
In the early hours of November 11, Ukrainian drones successfully attacked the Russian port of Ust-Luga, inflicting significant damage on oil storage tanks and the small missile ship 'Naro-Fominsk' of the 'Buyan-M' class. The strike sparked extensive fires across multiple terminals and a nearby railway station, severely damaging key infrastructure. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Leningrad Oblast, confirmed the assault, reporting casualties among personnel and the downing of several drones.
The attack caused several 30,000-ton oil tanks to ignite at the 'Novatek-Ust-Luga' terminal. Flames also engulfed tanks at the 'Ust-Luga Oil' terminal, the 'Faktor' terminal, and the Luzhskaya railway station. The affected facilities include:
- oil tank farms;
- pumping stations;
- pipelines;
- additional infrastructure critical for oil and petroleum product transshipment.
Firefighters and emergency responders remain actively engaged in containing and extinguishing the blazes.
Damage to Warship and Broader Impact
The same operation also struck the small missile ship 'Naro-Fominsk,' launched in 2022 and equipped to carry Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles. Governor Drozdenko reported that three workers were injured during the attack and noted that around 150 drones have been intercepted in the region.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated it continues targeted efforts to disable Russia’s oil infrastructure, aiming to reduce Kremlin revenues that fund the production of missiles, drones, and other military hardware used against Ukraine.
“The Russian rear cannot feel secure: for the terror inflicted on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, the Russian Federation is receiving retaliatory strikes on its own soil” – SBU.
NASA’s FIRMS satellite monitoring detected heat anomalies in and around the port area, confirming the scale of the fires. The Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ released footage showing the extensive blaze. Ust-Luga is Russia’s largest Baltic Sea port and second only to Novorossiysk in the country, handling about 700,000 barrels of oil daily.
This attack highlights Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to disrupt Russia’s strategic resources, which could substantially impact the aggressor’s economy. As a vital hub for oil transportation, damage to Ust-Luga threatens to interrupt supply chains and weaken Russia’s military capacity by targeting critical infrastructure that finances the war effort.
The recent drone strike has not only caused extensive damage at Ust-Luga but also highlights a growing pattern of targeted assaults on Russian maritime infrastructure. For a deeper understanding of how these developments are affecting regional security and energy dynamics, see our detailed report on the massive fire at Russia's Ust-Luga port.