Primorsk Port Attack
Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Primorsk oil port on Sunday, a key export hub on the Baltic Sea. The port has the capacity to handle one million barrels of oil a day. Regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated that the fire caused by the attack was extinguished. Drozdenko added that no oil spill was reported. According to Astra, an independent outlet, satellite image analysis suggests that both the oil terminal and a Pantsir air defense system were likely hit.
Shadow Fleet Tankers Targeted
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv also hit two of Russia's shadow fleet tankers near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Zelenskyy stated on social media that "These tankers had been actively used to transport oil — not anymore." These so-called shadow tankers are aging vessels used to ship Russia's sanctioned oil around the world. The extent of the damage to the tankers was not immediately clear.
Escalating Drone Warfare
Ukraine launched dozens of drones at the oil loading port of Primorsk. According to Moscow's Defense Ministry, Ukraine fired 334 drones at Russia overnight. Kyiv's air force reported that Russia fired 268 drones and one ballistic missile at Ukraine. Local authorities said more than 60 drones were downed over the Leningrad region, where Primorsk is located.
Casualties on Both Sides
A man was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack near Moscow, according to the regional governor. Two people were killed in attacks in Ukraine's southern Odesa region, where key export terminals are located, according to regional Governor Oleg Kiper. Kiper said that "Facilities and equipment for the port infrastructure were also damaged." A third person was killed in a Russian strike in the frontline region of Kherson in southern Ukraine, according to officials.
International Diplomacy
President Zelenskyy arrived in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, on Sunday, ahead of the European Political Community summit. Zelenskyy wrote on X that "Many meetings ahead. The key priority is more security and coordination for all of us." During a meeting in Yerevan with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Zelenskyy proposed that the two countries strengthen their bilateral partnership by "signing an agreement in the format of the Drone Deal." Zelenskyy also discussed a strategic partnership with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Sture, including a drone deal and efforts to strengthen air defense.
Economic Repercussions
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that global oil prices may rise further if Ukraine continues to hit Russian oil infrastructure. Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months in a bid to harm the Russian economy and disrupt fuel supplies to Russian forces. Russia and Ukraine have traded daily drone barrages for most of the war, as US-mediated talks to end the fighting have stalled. The European Political Community, established in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is an intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe.
