Russian oil export infrastructure has suffered significant disruption after Ukrainian drone attacks damaged a substantial portion of storage capacity at key Baltic Sea ports, according to satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters.
Images captured at the end of March and supplied by US spatial intelligence firm Vantor show that at least 40% of storage facilities at Russia’s Primorsk port were destroyed or rendered inoperable.
The development marks a major escalation in Ukraine’s targeting of Russian energy infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.
Primorsk takes a major hit
Primorsk, one of Russia’s largest oil export gateways on the Baltic Sea, plays a critical role in global energy flows.
The port has the capacity to handle up to 1 million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to nearly 1% of global supply, according to data from pipeline operator Transneft.
Satellite images indicate that at least eight oil storage reservoirs, each with a capacity of 50,000 cubic metres, were damaged in the attacks.
This represents roughly 40% of the port’s total storage infrastructure and is expected to disrupt throughput significantly.
The affected reservoirs are central to the port’s logistics chain, with their availability directly influencing export volumes.
Industry sources noted that two of the eight heavily damaged tanks were used for diesel storage, adding to the operational challenges.
At one point last month, around 40% of Russia’s oil exporting capabilities were shut down due to a combination of the drone strikes, the closure of the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine, and the seizure of Russia-linked tankers.
Ust-Luga disruptions add pressure
The impact of the attacks extended beyond Primorsk to another major Baltic Sea port, Ust-Luga, which faced repeated strikes throughout March.
Russian local authorities reported that the port was hit on March 22, 25, 27, 29, and 31, forcing temporary suspensions of loading operations.
Satellite imagery revealed that eight oil product storage reservoirs at the Ust-Luga Oil terminal, each with a capacity of 30,000 cubic metres, were damaged by fire.
This accounts for roughly a quarter of the terminal’s total storage capacity.
In addition to storage facilities, some berth infrastructure was also affected, further complicating export operations and logistics at the port.
These repeated disruptions underscore the growing vulnerability of Russia’s export network as Ukraine intensifies its campaign against energy assets, particularly those located along critical maritime routes.
Broader implications for oil markets
The sustained attacks on key export hubs come at a time when global energy markets remain sensitive to supply disruptions.
Brent Crude surged 7% to $108 after US President Donald Trump said US will continue striking Iran “extremely hard” over the next two to three weeks.
With Primorsk alone handling a significant share of Russia’s seaborne crude exports, any prolonged reduction in capacity could have ripple effects across global oil flows.
The Kremlin has strongly condemned the attacks. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the strikes as “terrorist attacks,” adding that Russia “was working on protecting its critical infrastructure.”
Ukraine has stepped up its drone campaign over the past month, carrying out some of the heaviest strikes of the more than four-year conflict.
The targeting of energy infrastructure, particularly export terminals, highlights a strategic effort to disrupt Russia’s oil revenues and logistical capabilities.
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