Ukraine Hits Ust-Luga Key Russian Port in Seventh Drone Strike

Explosions at a key Russian oil port. Ukraine’s drones strike Ust-Luga for the seventh time, raising pressure on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian drones carried out another overnight strike targeting Russia’s Ust-Luga port, marking the seventh consecutive attack on the Leningrad region in recent days, according to Russian officials and local reports.

Explosions were reported during the night of March 31 near the strategic port of Ust-Luga, as well as in the Kirishi, Luzhsky, and Tosnensky districts. Russian media and local Telegram channels described multiple blasts and air defense activity across the region.

Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed the масштаб of the attack, stating that Russian air defenses had intercepted 38 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the region as of 06:00 local time. He also acknowledged additional impacts in the port area, though did not provide detailed damage assessments.

By 07:09, officials declared the drone attack over.

Ust-Luga, one of Russia’s largest ports on the Baltic Sea and a key hub for oil and petroleum exports, has now come under repeated drone strikes. This latest incident marks the third attack on the port in March alone. A previous strike on the night of March 29 reportedly triggered a smoke plume so large it was visible from passenger aircraft.

The growing frequency of attacks suggests a sustained campaign targeting critical Russian infrastructure far from the front lines.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Forces also struck the NOVATEK Ust-Luga facility in the same region. According to Ukraine’s General Staff at the time, the attack damaged fuel storage tanks and loading infrastructure within the complex—assets considered vital to Russia’s energy export capacity.

The economic implications may already be emerging. On March 25, Reuters reported that operations at Ust-Luga had been partially suspended following earlier drone strikes, disrupting shipments of oil and petroleum products. Analysts described the attacks as among the most significant targeting Russia’s energy sector since the start of the full-scale war.

Meanwhile, open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts have noted unusual movements of Russian radar systems. Some radar positions near Ust-Luga appear to have been abandoned, with no visible signs of activity. The repositioning—or absence—of air defense infrastructure could indicate attempts to adapt to the evolving threat posed by long-range drone operations.

As drone warfare continues to expand beyond frontline areas, strikes on strategic infrastructure like Ust-Luga highlight a new phase in the conflict—one where logistics, energy flows, and deep rear assets are increasingly under pressure.

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