Drone strikes target Russian Baltic oil hub and Black Sea shadow fleet amid stalled peace talks
Coordinated attacks on energy infrastructure continue as mutual accusations of civilian casualties mount on both sides of the conflict
Ukrainian forces have launched a significant drone assault on the Russian Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, resulting in a fire that was extinguished but causing no oil spill. Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed the damage to the facility, noting that more than 60 drones were downed over the northwestern region during the overnight operation.
The attack occurred against the backdrop of Primorsk's critical role as one of Russia's largest oil export gateways, capable of handling one million barrels per day. Despite the facility having been targeted multiple times in recent months, the current strike did not result in the release of crude oil, according to the governor's assessment.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces struck two shadow fleet tankers in waters near the entrance to the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Addressing the destruction via Telegram, the President stated that these vessels had been actively used to transport oil but are no longer operational, marking a direct blow to Russia's energy export capabilities.
The escalation in aerial harassment comes as US-brokered peace negotiations remain stalled. While Kyiv and Moscow continue to accuse each other of killing civilians in overnight raids, the intensity of the drone warfare has persisted for four years, with hundreds of explosive-packed devices exchanged on a near-daily basis.
Civilian casualties were reported across multiple regions in both countries following the exchanges. In Russia, Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed the death of a 77-year-old man in a village drone strike, while Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin reported three injuries, including a child. Conversely, officials in Ukraine confirmed fatalities in Odesa and Kherson, with Russian strikes accounting for at least three deaths and one ballistic missile fired during the night.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 268 drones and one ballistic missile during the overnight attacks. Meanwhile, on the eastern front, Russian troops are advancing towards Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, indicating that military operations continue to intensify despite the focus on energy infrastructure targets.
