Huge fires at Russian oil facilities following Ukraine strikes, satellite images show

Key Points:

• Ukraine has conducted multiple strikes since March 23 on key Russian oil export infrastructure near the Baltic Sea, targeting facilities in the Leningrad region including the ports of Ust-Luga, Primorsk, and the Kirishi oil refinery.
• These attacks have caused significant damage, with fires burning for several days and satellite imagery showing large smoke plumes; no oil shipments were recorded from Russia's Baltic ports on March 26-27, a first since the 2022 invasion.
• The Kirishi refinery is one of Russia's largest oil-processing plants, producing fuels critical to the Russian military, and the strikes have reportedly halted at least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity as of March 25.
• Ukraine's military drone commander confirmed the operation targeting these facilities occurred between March 23-28, aiming to disrupt Russian energy exports amid rising oil prices influenced by geopolitical tensions.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky noted that allies have requested a reduction in attacks on Russia's energy sector due to the global energy crisis, but emphasized that such attacks will continue unless Russia ceases targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.