A major Russian export hub was hit by a drone strike for the second time in days, with Ukraine intensifying attacks on energy and port infrastructure.
MOSCOW: A drone strike triggered a fire at Russia’s strategic Baltic port of Ust-Luga on Sunday, causing new damage at the major exporting hub.
Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed the incident on social media, stating there was damage to the port but no casualties.
He added that rescuers were working to extinguish the fire at the hub, which is crucial for Russian fertiliser, oil and coal exports.
This marks the second attack on the northwestern port in a matter of days, following a previous drone strike claimed by Ukraine’s military.
Drozdenko also reported that 36 drones were destroyed overnight in the Leningrad region surrounding the port.
Ukraine has intensified its campaign of retaliatory strikes on Russian infrastructure, including refineries, oil depots and ports.
Kyiv says these are legitimate targets aimed at cutting the energy revenues that fund Russia’s offensive against Ukraine.
There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials on the latest strike at Ust-Luga.
Ukraine also struck another major Russian Baltic port, Primorsk, earlier this week, with satellite imagery showing black smoke from the resulting fire.
Separately, a Ukrainian drone killed a man in Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, according to its governor.
Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the civilian died after two drone strikes hit the border city of Grayvoron, blaming the Ukrainian military.
The Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, has been regularly targeted by drone attacks in recent weeks.
Russian officials have reported multiple civilian injuries and damage to homes and vehicles across the border region.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 442 drones and one missile in its latest overnight offensive.
Kyiv’s forces said they shot down or intercepted 380 of the unmanned aerial vehicles during the attack.