Russian Baltic Oil Shipping Port Attacked, May Intensify Energy Supply Tension

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 23 - Two oil shipping ports in Russia, Primorsk and Ust-Luga, were attacked by Ukrainian drones between the night of the 22nd and the early morning of the 23rd. Industry insiders revealed to the media that oil export operations at the ports have been suspended since the 22nd. In the context of widespread disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, there are concerns that this incident may exacerbate global energy supply tensions.

These two ports are located in Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, approximately 80 kilometers apart. According to the Moscow Times, Leningrad Oblast Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported on the 23rd that Russian air defense systems intercepted more than 70 Ukrainian drones flying over the region during the night of the 22nd to the 23rd. The attack caused several fuel storage tanks at Primorsk port to catch fire.

Drozdenko stated in a later announcement that firefighting efforts are still ongoing, and port workers have been urgently evacuated. He did not mention whether port operations were affected, nor did he refer to Ust-Luga port.

Reuters reported on the 23rd, citing energy industry insiders, that crude oil and fuel export operations at the two ports have been suspended since the 22nd. The operating company of these two ports, the Russian Pipeline Transport Company, did not comment on the reports.

According to Reuters, Primorsk port is a major export terminal for Russian Urals crude oil and high-quality diesel, capable of handling over 1 million barrels of export oil daily. Ust-Luga port exports about 700,000 barrels of oil each day.

In September last year, these two ports also faced attacks from Ukrainian drones. The attacks caused a transport ship and an oil pumping station at Primorsk port to catch fire, forcing the suspension of oil shipping operations; several pumping stations transporting oil at Ust-Luga port were also attacked. Earlier this month, oil exports at Russia's largest port in Novorossiysk on the Black Sea were also affected by drone attacks.

This is an explosion photo released on social media by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on January 8, 2025, after an oil depot at the Russian Engels Air Force Base in Saratov Oblast was attacked. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated on social media that the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked an oil depot at the Russian Air Force base in Saratov Oblast. Xinhua News Agency

The Ukraine crisis has dragged on for over four years, with Ukraine and Russia mutually launching drones and missiles, resulting in damage to both sides' infrastructure and export trade. Ukraine frequently attacks Russian oil export facilities and refineries to undermine Russian oil revenues. Following this wave of drone attacks around midnight on the 22nd, flights in and out of Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, were suspended until the no-fly order was lifted at 9 a.m. local time on the 23rd. (Shen Min)