Ukraine Targets Russia's Largest Oil Terminal

Ukraine carried out one of its largest drone assaults of the war overnight on September 12, 2025, striking Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal, the country’s largest oil export facility on the Baltic Sea. According to Ukrainian security sources and multiple media reports, the attack set a vessel and a pumping station ablaze, forcing a temporary suspension of oil shipments from the terminal, which handles approximately 60 million tons of oil annually and is a key hub for Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers used to circumvent international sanctions.

Scale and Impact of the Attack

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for the operation, stating that the drone strikes were part of a systematic campaign to disrupt Russia’s oil industry and reduce its war revenues. The Leningrad region’s governor, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed the attack, reporting fires at the port and a pumping station, but said they were extinguished without casualties. Ukrainian sources estimated that the suspension of oil exports could cost Russia up to $41 million per day, though Russian officials did not confirm the extent of the disruption. The attack also caused delays and diversions at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport and was described by local residents as one of the most massive strikes since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

Broader Campaign and Russian Response

In addition to Primorsk, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck three oil pumping stations supplying the Ust-Luga port terminal, another major export point on the Baltic. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted 221 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including Moscow and Smolensk, but acknowledged fires and operational suspensions at key energy sites. The strikes are part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to target Russia’s energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says is in retaliation for intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.

Economic and Geopolitical Repercussions

The immediate aftermath of the attack saw a brief spike in international oil prices, with Brent crude rising about 2% before stabilizing. The disruption at Primorsk, which reportedly brings Russia around $15 billion in annual revenue, underscores the vulnerability of Russia’s energy export routes amid ongoing hostilities. The incident also highlights the evolving use of long-range drones in modern warfare, as Ukraine seeks to offset its disadvantages on the front lines by striking deep into Russian territory. While Russian officials have downplayed the impact, the repeated targeting of critical oil infrastructure signals a new phase in the conflict, with potential implications for global energy markets and the broader geopolitical landscape.