Ust-Luga (Port)

Latest news

Port again attacked by drones

The Leningrad region came under a fresh Ukrainian drone attack on the night of March 28, Governor Alexander Drozdenko said in a Telegram post on the morning of March 29. Air defenses have allegedly shot down 31 drones so far, while the emergency services were working to put down a fire at Ust-Luga port. On March 29 the port came under fire for the fifth consecutive day, with no loadings recorded since March 25.The Leningrad region on the Baltic coast hosts major Russian export hubs and has come under repeated Ukrainian attacks over the past week. Beginning on March 23 with a drone attack on the Baltic port of Primorsk, Ukraine’s Baltic attacks continued two days later with strikes at Ust-Luga before targeting one of Russia’s largest refineries in the Kirishi district on March 26. Report with photo: https://gcaptain.com/russias-ust-luga-port-takes-new-damage-in-ukraine-drone-attack/

Riots after port shutdown

Port workers, identified primarily as migrant laborers, including several of Kazakh origin, were prevented by security personnel from starting their scheduled shifts on the night of March 26. This followed the general suspension of port operations after strikes hit the NOVATEK gas condensate plant. There was a confrontation between labourers and terminal security forces. A security vehicle drove directly into a crowd of workers, further intensifying the conflict. Mass detentions have allegedly followed the riot. While the exact number of injuries remained unconfirmed, the incident highlighted a growing breakdown in the logistical and social management of the facility during the current crisis. The Port of Ust-Luga was under extreme operational pressure. With export activities suspended due to fire damage and security risks, the presence of a large, idled workforce has created a secondary crisis for port authorities. This internal instability coincided with the broader disruption of Russia’s Baltic oil and gas export routes. As of March 27, the situation remained fluid, with security forces maintaining a heavy presence at the terminal to prevent further outbreaks of violence.

Fire in port caused significant damage

A fire at Russia’s port of Ust-Luga, following drone attacks, was being dealt with, the governor of Leningrad region said on March 25, 2026. In the early hours of the day, a large number of Ukrainian drones targeted sites in and around St. Petersburg, including an FSB icebreaker and the Ust-Luga oil terminal.There was significant damage to the key Baltic export facility. The Procect 23550-ice patrol vessel 'Purga' (Hull No. 235) of the Russian Navy was struck and halfway capsized at the quay of the Vyborg Shipbuilding Plant. The vessel developed a port-side list of about 30-40 degrees. Its keel was laid in July 2020. The ship was leaning against the Project 22011-oceanographic research vessel 'Vice Admiral Burilichev', which is a part of Russia’s strategy for monitoring and analysing underwater infrastructure. The 'Purga' is a type of armed icebreaker designed for both military and patrol duties in the Arctic. The ships of the class are built to operate year-round in ice up to 1.7 meters thick and can be equipped with, among other things, cannons, machine guns and missile systems, as well as helicopter capacity. The vessel is being built for the Russian Border Guard under the FSB and was scheduled to be completed with assistance from Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. However, the delivery has already been delayed. The attack is notable as it targets a specialised Arctic vessel and testifies to an increased range of Ukrainian drone operations against Russian infrastructure far from the front lines. The extent of the damage is still unknown, but even limited hull damage could affect the completion of advanced ice-class vessels. Recent weeks have seen a surge in drone attacks on key Russian oil infrastructure by Ukraine. Ukraine struck the port of Primorsk, Russia’s largest oil-loading terminal on the Baltic, earlier this week with long-range drone attacks, igniting a fire at the facility that processes up to 1.5million barrels of oil and oil products per day. Reports with photos and video: https://www.20min.ch/story/ust-luga-massiver-drohnenangriff-eisbrecher-schiff-und-oellager-beschaedigt-103533594 https://twitter.com/i/status/2036654076780494938 https://prm.ua/en/fire-at-vyborg-plant-after-drone-attack-dry-cargo-ship-and-icebreaker-destroyed/ https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/ukrainian-drone-wrecks-fsbs-new-arctic-vessel/447386 https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/03/25/ukraines-drones-reached-a-russian-gas-plant-near-the-estonian-border-and-a-ship-near-finland/ https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/03/25/ukraines-drones-reached-a-russian-gas-plant-near-the-estonian-border-and-a-ship-near-finland/#google_vignette