Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Refineries, Oil Exports Hit Hard
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities in the Baltic region have intensified, causing disruptions to exports and major losses for Moscow. The primary targets are the oil terminals at Ust-Luga and Primorsk, which have long served as vital routes for Russia’s energy shipments to global markets.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), these two facilities handle around two-fifths of Russia’s seaborne oil exports and nearly 2% of the world’s oil supply. The impact of the strikes has even been felt in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. A resident named Konstantin reported smelling burning fuel and chemicals from his apartment in recent weeks.
“I never thought the war would feel so close to me,” he told Al Jazeera on Tuesday (7/4/2026).
Disruptions at the Baltic terminals have led to a sharp decline in Russia’s oil exports since late March. A Bloomberg report states that Moscow’s losses amount to US$1 billion, or approximately Rp17 trillion. Damage to infrastructure has forced rerouting of shipments to smaller ports, but their capacity is limited.
Reuters reports that alternative ports in the Baltic and Black Seas cannot accommodate the surge in volume.
These strikes are part of Kyiv’s strategy to pressure Russia’s energy revenues amid the ongoing conflict. Researcher Nikolay Mitrokhin from the University of Bremen notes that the intensity of attacks has increased in line with global oil price surges due to the conflict in the Middle East.
“The frequency of strikes is linked to the Iran war and Russia’s new opportunities to profit from it,” he said.
Each US$10 increase in oil prices per barrel could add up to US$1.6 billion per month, or about Rp27 trillion, to Russia’s revenues. Therefore, attacks on energy infrastructure are seen as a direct effort to cut off Moscow’s war funding sources.
Ukraine now relies on long-range drones capable of flying up to 1,500 km with large explosive payloads. The strikes have hit at least 13 locations, including eight major oil refineries. This move also serves as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Kremlin, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly pushing for a moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure.
However, observers believe Russian President Vladimir Putin will not yield easily. “Putin won’t walk away from the talks, but he won’t agree to anything,” said a Ukrainian political analyst.
In conflict areas like Crimea, residents report increased military activity almost every night. “We see fireworks in the sky every night. Shooting is continuous,” said one resident.
The ongoing strikes mark a new escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, with the energy sector now a primary target to pressure Russia’s financial capabilities.