Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities in the Baltic\nregion have intensified, causing disruptions to exports and major losses\nfor Moscow. The primary targets are the oil terminals at Ust-Luga and\nPrimorsk, which have long served as vital routes for Russia\u2019s energy\nshipments to global markets.<\/p>\n
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), these two\nfacilities handle around two-fifths of Russia\u2019s seaborne oil exports and\nnearly 2% of the world\u2019s oil supply. The impact of the strikes has even\nbeen felt in St Petersburg, Russia\u2019s second-largest city. A resident\nnamed Konstantin reported smelling burning fuel and chemicals from his\napartment in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought the war would feel so close to me,\u201d he told Al\nJazeera on Tuesday (7\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
Disruptions at the Baltic terminals have led to a sharp decline in\nRussia\u2019s oil exports since late March. A Bloomberg report states that\nMoscow\u2019s losses amount to US$1 billion, or approximately Rp17 trillion.\nDamage to infrastructure has forced rerouting of shipments to smaller\nports, but their capacity is limited.<\/p>\n
Reuters reports that alternative ports in the Baltic and Black Seas\ncannot accommodate the surge in volume.<\/p>\n
These strikes are part of Kyiv\u2019s strategy to pressure Russia\u2019s energy\nrevenues amid the ongoing conflict. Researcher Nikolay Mitrokhin from\nthe University of Bremen notes that the intensity of attacks has\nincreased in line with global oil price surges due to the conflict in\nthe Middle East.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe frequency of strikes is linked to the Iran war and Russia\u2019s new\nopportunities to profit from it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Each US$10 increase in oil prices per barrel could add up to US$1.6\nbillion per month, or about Rp27 trillion, to Russia\u2019s revenues.\nTherefore, attacks on energy infrastructure are seen as a direct effort\nto cut off Moscow\u2019s war funding sources.<\/p>\n
Ukraine now relies on long-range drones capable of flying up to 1,500\nkm with large explosive payloads. The strikes have hit at least 13\nlocations, including eight major oil refineries. This move also serves\nas a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Kremlin, where President\nVolodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly pushing for a moratorium on attacks\nagainst energy infrastructure.<\/p>\n
However, observers believe Russian President Vladimir Putin will not\nyield easily. \u201cPutin won\u2019t walk away from the talks, but he won\u2019t agree\nto anything,\u201d said a Ukrainian political analyst.<\/p>\n
In conflict areas like Crimea, residents report increased military\nactivity almost every night. \u201cWe see fireworks in the sky every night.\nShooting is continuous,\u201d said one resident.<\/p>\n
The ongoing strikes mark a new escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war,\nwith the energy sector now a primary target to pressure Russia\u2019s\nfinancial capabilities.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ukrainian-drones-strike-russian-refineries-oil-exports-hit-hard-1775591466", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }