Baltic Sea Port Targeted
Ukrainian drones struck Russia's oil infrastructure, including the Primorsk oil export terminal on the Baltic Sea. The port, operated by Transneft, has the capacity to handle one million barrels of oil a day. Regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko said that the fire was extinguished and no oil spill occurred. The independent outlet Astra reported that satellite image analysis indicated that the oil terminal and a Pantsir air defense system were likely hit.
"Shadow Fleet" Tankers Hit
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck two of Russia's "shadow fleet" tankers near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Zelenskyy said the tankers were actively used to transport oil to evade Western sanctions. He added the operation was led by Andrii Hnatov, chief of Ukraine's general staff. Zelenskyy also reported that a Karakurt missile ship, a patrol boat, and a tanker were hit in the Primorsk port.
Damage and Casualties
Two people were killed and three others wounded in Ukraine's southern Odesa region due to Russian drone strikes, according to Ukraine's Emergency Service. Three residential buildings were damaged in the attack. Six people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region after nighttime Russian strikes. A passenger bus transporting 40 children was damaged, but no one inside was injured. In Russia, a 77-year-old man was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike west of Moscow, according to Gov. Andrei Vorobyov.
Drone Warfare Intensifies
Russia's Defense Ministry reported that 334 Ukrainian UAVs were downed overnight over Russia and occupied Crimea. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia attacked Ukraine with 269 drones and one ballistic missile. Ukrainian forces shot down 249 drones, while 19 drones and ballistic missiles hit 15 locations. Local authorities said more than 60 drones were downed over the Leningrad region where the Primorsk oil export terminal is located.
International Response
President Zelenskyy met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Yerevan and proposed strengthening their bilateral partnership by "signing an agreement in the format of the Drone Deal." Zelenskyy also discussed a strategic partnership with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Sture, including a drone deal and efforts to strengthen air defense. Gov. Vasiliy Anokhin reported that a man, woman, and child were injured in Russia's western Smolensk region after Ukrainian drone debris flew into an apartment block.
