Ukraine Strikes Russia's Ust-Luga Baltic Oil Port — Largest Drone Attack of 2026

Ukraine launched its largest overnight drone attack of 2026 on the night of March 24–25, striking Russia's Ust-Luga oil export port on the Baltic Sea (150 km southwest of St. Petersburg). Drones hit Novatek's oil-product facilities at the port at 3:43 a.m. local time, setting ablaze storage tanks and loading equipment and halting crude loadings. Governor Alexander Drozdenko said 56 drones were intercepted in Leningrad region; Russia's Defense Ministry said 389 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight — the highest number since March 10, 2025. Ust-Luga ships approximately 450,000 barrels of crude per day. The Kronstadt naval base area also sustained property damage. Ukraine also struck the Novatek Gas Facility in Russia's Leningrad Region. Approximately 40% of Russia's oil export capacity was halted amid Ukrainian strikes, pipeline damage, and tanker seizures, according to Reuters.