Ukraine launched a sweeping drone operation against Russian infrastructure overnight, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The assault centered on the Primorsk oil terminal in the Leningrad region, a pivotal node in Russia's Baltic Pipeline System and a cornerstone for its maritime oil shipments.
This marked the first instance of such strikes forcing a halt in loading operations at the facility, which handles roughly 1 million barrels per day of crude, including the flagship Urals grade and substantial diesel volumes.
Ukrainian security services confirmed the strikes, noting hits on the port alongside several pumping stations supplying the nearby Ust-Luga terminal.
The operation involved over 200 drones dispatched toward Russian territory, representing one of the most ambitious Ukrainian aerial campaigns in recent months.
Russian defenses intercepted more than half of the incoming threats, primarily over the Bryansk and Smolensk regions, where additional Lukoil sites drew attention.
Authorities in the Leningrad area reported neutralizing 28 drones, with fires erupting at a vessel and a pumping station in Primorsk.
The blazes were swiftly contained, avoiding casualties or environmental spills, according to regional officials.
This vital port underpins Russia's shadow fleet of older tankers, deployed to evade Western sanctions on energy exports.
The drone incursion disrupted loadings at Primorsk early Friday, as verified by industry insiders and Ukrainian military statements.
Two tankers, the Aframax vessels Kusto and Cai Yun — both Seychelles-registered and capable of carrying around 700,000 barrels each — sustained damage from the strikes.
Managed by Solstice Corp and Acceronix Ltd respectively, the ships' involvement highlights the precision of the attack on export logistics.
While the regional governor acknowledged the fires but omitted mention of operational suspensions, the pause underscored vulnerabilities in Russia's western export chain.
Broader ripples extended to St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport, where flights faced temporary halts, and to Bryansk, where a drone struck a bus, wounding seven individuals including civilians and service members.
Interceptions occurred across at least nine regions, from Kaluga to the Moscow outskirts, with debris scattered but no further deaths reported.
In Ukraine's Sumy region, a Russian glide bomb claimed two civilian lives in a border village, amplifying the cross-border toll.
Such deep-penetration strikes reflect Ukraine's strategy to erode Russia's fuel logistics, targeting refineries and depots far from the front lines to inflate costs and curb revenues.
August alone saw over a dozen facilities compromised, sidelining 20 percent of refining capacity per U.S. assessments, though Moscow attributes setbacks to routine maintenance.
This has strained domestic supplies, with reports of fuel rationing, extensive queues, and price spikes in Russia's far east, as noted in local media.
Pipeline disruptions, including to the Druzhba line serving Hungary and Slovakia, threaten foreign earnings.
In response, Russia has ramped up assaults on Ukrainian urban and power grids, coinciding with stalled peace initiatives.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cited a negotiation lull, faulting European partners for obstructions.
The timing precedes a large-scale Russia-Belarus drill, set against recent airspace violations over Poland.
As drone warfare intensifies, these exchanges signal a protracted battle over energy lifelines and territorial skies.