Exclusive: Russia's Primorsk Oil Terminal Lost 40% of Storage to Drone Attacks, Satellite Images Show
04.03.2026 By Tank Terminals - NEWS

April 03, 2026 [Reuters]- Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, ‌one of country’s largest export gateways, lost at least 40% of its storage facilities in Ukrainian drone attacks last month, U.S. commercial satellite images seen by Reuters showed on Thursday.

 

Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian ​energy facilities in the past month, launching the heaviest drone strikes on the ​Baltic Sea ports during the more than four-year war.

At some point last month, around ⁠40% of Russia’s oil exporting capabilities were shut due to the attacks, closure of the Druzhba ​pipeline in Ukraine and seizure of Russia-linked tankers.

Satellite images from the end of March, supplied by ​U.S. spatial intelligence company Vantor, showed at least eight reservoirs with a capacity of 50,000 cubic metres each were damaged. That amounts to at least 40% of the port’s total storage and may force the outlet ​to cut turnover accordingly, traders said.

The reservoirs play an important role in the logistics chain ​at the ports and their availability directly impacts the oil exports.

Another Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga was also attacked ‌last ⁠month several times and it had to suspend loading.

Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft data showed that Primorsk, which is able to handle 1 million barrels of oil per day, or almost 1% of global oil supply, has at its main oil depot 14 crude oil reservoirs and ​four facilities to store ​diesel.

According to industry sources, ⁠two of eight seriously damaged tanks were used to handle diesel.

Transneft, which also controls the ports, did not reply to a request for ​comment.

Russian local authorities say Ust-Luga was hit on March 22, 25, 27, ​29 and ⁠31, forcing suspensions of export operations.

Satellite images also showed that eight oil product reservoirs with capacity of 30,000 cubic metres each at a terminal, called Ust-Luga Oil, were damaged by fire. That ⁠accounts for ​about a quarter of all storage at the outlet.

Some ​berth facilities were also hit, the satellite images showed.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called the strikes “terrorist attacks,” adding that Russia ​was working on protecting its critical infrastructure.

 

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