Russian Baltic Sea Oil Shipping Port Attacked

 Russia's two oil-loading ports in the Baltic Sea, Primorsk and Ust-Luga, were attacked by Ukrainian drones between the early hours of the 22nd and the morning of the 23rd. Energy industry insiders revealed to the media that the port's oil export operations have been suspended since the 22nd. In the context of the US-Israel-Iran conflict leading to widespread disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the industry is concerned that this event may exacerbate global energy supply shortages.

 These two ports are located in the Leningrad Oblast in the northwest of Russia, about 80 kilometers apart. According to the Russian "Moscow Times," Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozhenko reported on the 23rd that between the 22nd and the early morning of the 23rd, the Russian air defense system intercepted more than 70 Ukrainian drones that flew into the airspace of the region. The attack caused several fuel storage tanks in the port of Primorsk to catch fire.

 Drozhzhenko said in a statement issued later that day that the firefighting efforts are still ongoing, and the port workers have been urgently evacuated. He did not mention whether port operations were affected, nor did he mention the port of Ust-Luga.

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

 Primorsk Port is the main export terminal for Russian Urals crude oil and high-quality diesel, capable of processing over 1 million barrels of exported oil per day. Ust-Luga Port exports about 700,000 barrels of oil every day.

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

 The Ukrainian crisis has dragged on for over 4 years, with Ukraine and Russia exchanging drones and missiles, causing damage to both sides' infrastructure and export trade. The Ukrainian side frequently attacks Russian oil export facilities and refineries to target Russian oil revenue. Due to the drone attacks around midnight on the 22nd, the Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, suspended all incoming and outgoing flights until the no-fly order was lifted at 9 a.m. local time on the 23rd.