A significant fire has forced the shutdown of a major Russian fuel export terminal on the Baltic Sea, in what Ukrainian media sources are claiming was a successful special services operation.
The blaze erupted at Novatek's massive Ust-Luga processing complex on Sunday morning. The facility, crucial for shipping natural gas condensate to international markets, is now at a standstill.
Local officials from the Leningrad region confirmed the incident, stating that all personnel at the plant had been safely evacuated. Preliminary reports from Russian news agencies attributed the fire to an "external factor."
Ukraine Claims Responsibility for Strategic Strike
While Ukrainian officials have not formally claimed responsibility, a source within the Ukrainian defence sector told Reuters that the fire was the result of a special operation carried out by Ukraine's security services.
The source stated the Ust-Luga facility was a legitimate target, used by the Russian military to fuel its war effort. "The Ust-Luga oil terminal in the Leningrad region was attacked today... This is a successful special operation of the Ukrainian security services", the source said.
Impact on Russian Energy Exports and the War Effort
The terminal plays a vital role in Russia's energy economy. It processes stable gas condensate into light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, and fuel oil, which are then shipped to global markets from the port.
Any prolonged disruption at Ust-Luga represents a substantial economic and strategic blow, potentially hampering the funds available for Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The plant is also a key facility for processing shipments from Novatek's massive Yamal LNG project.
This incident is the latest in a series of apparent Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure deep inside Russia, demonstrating a growing capability to target strategic economic assets far from the front lines.
