Oil terminal in St. Petersburg ablaze after massive drone attack, disrupting exports

A significant fire erupted at an oil terminal in St. Petersburg early on July 4, following what Ukrainian sources describe as a massive drone attack targeting the city and Leningrad Oblast. The affected terminal is reportedly Russia's largest on the Baltic Sea, with an annual processing capacity of 12.5 million tons, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the country's oil exports via the Baltic route.

Eyewitness accounts and media reports shared images and videos of a large blaze and a tall column of black smoke rising from the terminal. The attack, allegedly carried out by FP-1 drones according to some reports, targeted the terminal located in the Kirovsky district on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The facility reportedly contained 21 oil tanks, some of which are believed to have been engulfed in flames.

In addition to the fire, the attack caused widespread disruptions within St. Petersburg. Pulkovo Airport was closed, leading to the suspension of over 50 flights, and the city experienced significant internet outages starting around 4:00 AM. The governor of Leningrad Oblast claimed that 67 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight, with debris reportedly falling near the port of Vysotsk. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that 389 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across 19 regions and over the Sea of Azov and Black Sea.

This incident is not the first time the strategic St. Petersburg terminal has been targeted. A previous attack on June 3 reportedly caused a serious fire. The current strike, coupled with a recent drone attack on Lukoil's NORSI refinery on July 2, exacerbates concerns about a growing fuel crisis in Russia. While authorities claimed the fire's "man-made consequences" were eliminated and no injuries were reported, the long-term operational impact on the terminal remains a significant concern.

“

Według rosyjskiego Ministerstwa Obrony, w nocy z soboty na niedzielę przechwycono 389 ukraińskich dronów w 19 regionach, a także nad Morzem Azowskim i Czarnym.