Ukraine’s Drone Strikes Target Russian Oil Infrastructure Near St. Petersburg Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Russian oil facilities, with recent attacks focusing on critical energy infrastructure near St. Petersburg. These strikes represent a significant escalation in Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt Russia’s ability to export oil and fund its war effort. On September 12, 2025, Ukraine launched one of its largest overnight drone attacks in months, deploying more than 221 drones toward Russian territory. The primary target was the Primorsk oil terminal in the Leningrad region – Russia’s largest oil terminal on the Baltic Sea and a crucial hub for maritime exports. Ukrainian security services confirmed the strike hit the final station of the Baltic Pipeline System. Russian authorities reported intercepting more than half of the drones over the Bryansk and Smolensk regions, though 28 drones were brought down in the Leningrad region. A fire broke out at a vessel and pumping station in Primorsk, though officials stated it was extinguished without casualties or leaks. The terminal is as well central to Russia’s “shadow fleet” of aging tankers used to evade international sanctions. Just two days later, on September 14, Ukraine struck the Kirishi (KINEF) oil refinery approximately 100 kilometers southeast of St. Petersburg. Satellite data and geolocated videos confirmed a major fire erupted inside the facility, which processes over 19.8 million tonnes of crude oil annually and ranks among Russia’s top 10 oil-processing facilities. The attack followed a reported strike on the Ufa refinery the previous day. These attacks are part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to degrade Russian oil production and transportation capabilities. According to the International Energy Agency, the targeted facilities handle approximately two-fifths of Moscow’s seaborne oil exports and nearly 2 percent of global oil supply. Ukrainian forces have increasingly focused on oil pipelines and refineries in recent months, with such strikes occurring almost daily in some regions. The pattern of attacks demonstrates Ukraine’s growing capability to conduct precision strikes deep inside Russian territory using long-range drones. While Russian air defenses have intercepted many drones, the cumulative impact of successful strikes has begun to affect energy infrastructure critical to Russia’s economy and military operations. As the conflict continues, these energy infrastructure attacks remain a key component of Ukraine’s strategy to weaken Russia’s war-fighting capacity while avoiding direct confrontation with NATO member states. The effectiveness of this approach will likely influence future military planning on both sides.
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