Key facts
- Ukraine reportedly conducted a drone attack on Russia's Leningrad Oblast on August 13.
- Port infrastructure in Ust-Luga, a major Russian Baltic Sea oil export hub, was damaged.
- Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported a fire at the port following the attack.
- Russian officials claimed 51 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the region.
- The Ust-Luga port has been a frequent target of Ukrainian strikes in recent months.
Ukraine's military reportedly launched a drone attack on Russia's Leningrad Oblast overnight on August 13, damaging "port infrastructure" in Ust-Luga, according to regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko. Ust-Luga, a significant oil export hub on the Baltic Sea, experienced a fire amid the attack, with officials claiming 51 Ukrainian drones were downed over the region. The Kyiv Independent stated it could not immediately verify these claims or the specific target. This incident follows a pattern of Ukrainian deep strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, which have aimed to disrupt operations, exacerbate domestic fuel crises, and pressure the Kremlin. Earlier on August 13, the governor of Russia's Orenburg Oblast reported that an oil refinery in Orsk had completely halted processing after a recent Ukrainian drone strike, with repairs expected to take months.