The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the Armed Forces, carried out a successful special operation targeting the oil terminal infrastructure at the port of Ust-Luga, Russia.
“A ‘gift’ to the enemy for SSU Day: the SSU, together with the SBS, SSO, Defence Intelligence, and DPSU, conducted a successful special operation against the oil terminal infrastructure at the Ust-Luga port,” the SSU reported on its Telegram channel Wednesday.
According to the SSU, Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s key Baltic ports, through which the enemy exports crude oil and petroleum products, including via vessels of the so-called “shadow fleet.”
“Today’s special operation is a symbolic ‘gift’ to the enemy for SSU Day. A reminder that no region in Russia is safe anymore. We will continue long-range operations to systematically reduce the enemy’s military-economic potential,” said Acting SSU Chief Major General Yevhen Khmara.
The SSU emphasized that long-range drones from the “Alpha” Special Operations Center flew over 900 km and successfully struck the targets.
“As a result of the attack, oil and fuel dispensers and the storage tank park with crude oil and petroleum products were damaged. A large-scale fire is ongoing at the port, confirmed by the governor of Leningrad Oblast,” the agency noted.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the operation hit not only the NOVATEK-Ust-Luga oil refinery in Russia but also enemy communication nodes in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory.
“On the night of March 24, during a joint operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the NOVATEK-Ust-Luga plant in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. Preliminary information indicates damage to the tank park and loading/unloading units. A fire has been recorded on the facility,” the General Staff reported on its Telegram channel.
Additionally, enemy communication nodes were destroyed in Donetsk, in the settlements of Velyka Novosilka and Hirnyk in temporarily occupied Donetsk region, and at an enemy node near Fedorivka in Zaporizhzhia region.
“Striking such facilities significantly complicates enemy command and control and coordination of their combat operations,” the General Staff added.
Casualties and the full extent of the damage to the occupiers are being assessed.
The SSU reminded that this is the second attack this week on Russian oil exports in the Baltic: on March 23, SSU drones successfully struck the port of Primorsk, where the resulting fire is still ongoing.
