Ukrainian Drone Strike Hits Russian Oil Refinery in St. Petersburg

Recent dramatic footage captured the moment when a Russian oil refinery located in St. Petersburg was likely struck by drones, believed to be deployed by Ukraine. This port, essential to Russian maritime logistics and situated as the second most important after Novorossiysk, reportedly had most of the drones intercepted over the Novatrans terminal within its vicinity. Initial assessments indicate that the damage was minimal, primarily affecting the windows of one of the port structures.

Local officials stated that four drones were neutralized, and there were no reported casualties or major infrastructural damage. The Ust-Luga maritime trade port has been operational since December 2001, starting with a coal terminal, and has since expanded to become Russia's second-largest port, crucial for exporting fuel supplies, including those intended for military use. This incident is not isolated; there had been prior explosions near the oil terminal on January 21, confirmed as part of Ukraine's Security Service's special operations. Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2022, Ukrainian forces have increased their focus on striking Russian infrastructure to hinder logistical routes and military supply chains.