Drone Strikes Disrupt Russia’s Baltic Oil Lifelines, Halting Key Exports

Moscow — Russia suspended oil and fuel loadings at its Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga on March 22 following drone attacks and security alerts, two industry sources said on Monday, disrupting flows from some of the country’s main export terminals.

A fuel reservoir at Primorsk caught fire after a drone strike, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said on Telegram. Separately, Ust-Luga operations were halted due to a drone alert in the surrounding area, the sources said.

Both ports, located in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, handle the bulk of the country’s seaborne crude oil and refined fuel exports from its western outlets, making them critical nodes in Russia’s energy supply chain.

The suspensions underscore growing vulnerabilities in Russia’s energy infrastructure as drone attacks increasingly target logistics and export facilities. While the extent of damage and the expected duration of the halt were not immediately clear, any prolonged disruption could tighten export availability from Baltic routes.

Transneft, Russia’s state-controlled oil pipeline monopoly that operates both Primorsk and Ust-Luga, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Primorsk and Ust-Luga serve as key gateways for Russian crude and petroleum products destined for international markets, particularly in Europe and beyond via maritime routes. Interruptions at these ports can affect shipping schedules, storage logistics and broader supply balances.

The incidents come amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a pattern of attacks on energy infrastructure, raising concerns over the resilience of supply networks and potential knock-on effects in global oil markets.