Fire at strategic port of Ust-Luga: Drones attack Leningrad Oblast

Incident in the area of a strategic harbour

A large-scale fire has been recorded in the area of the Ust-Luga seaport in Russia's Leningrad Oblast. This infrastructure is one of Russia's largest trade hubs on the Baltic Sea.

Information about the fire was shared by local residents, who also noted warnings of a drone threat, the sounds of explosions, and the operation of air defence systems.

Verification of data

OSINT analysts were unable to independently verify the authenticity of video recordings of the large-scale fire filmed in Kingiseppsky District. Meanwhile, local residents reported fire in the port zone.

According to reports, the fire at Ust-Luga port is clearly visible from the territory of Estonia.

Official reaction from authorities

Oleksandr Drozdenko, the Governor of Leningrad Oblast, officially reported on the consequences of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack.

«Попередньо внаслідок атаки БпЛА є влучання у портовій зоні Усть-Луги, сталося займання, необхідні сили та засоби приступили до гасіння. Також сталося аварійне відключення трансформаторної підстанції в Усть-Лузі. Подальша інформація уточнюється» (Preliminarily, as a result of the UAV attack, there is a hit in the Ust-Luga port zone, a fire has started, and the necessary forces and means have begun extinguishing it. An emergency shutdown of the transformer substation in Ust-Luga also occurred. Further information is being clarified), Drozdenko stated.

He also added that 146 drones were destroyed over the region, and "combat operations" are continuing.

Context and significance of the facility

The Ust-Luga port is located in the Gulf of Finland, approximately 100–150 km from St Petersburg. The facility began operating in 2001 and is a key export platform for the Russian economy and the military-industrial complex.

The port terminals handle the transshipment of oil, petroleum products, coal, sulphur, mineral fertilisers, gas condensate, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and container cargo.

This is not the first incident in this area. On 1 September, a fire in the Ust-Luga port zone caused by a UAV attack was reported. Earlier, on 14 August, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported striking the "NOVATEK - Ust-Luga" complex in Leningrad Oblast.