Oil shipments on pause at Russia's Ust-Luga port after drone strike, Bloomberg reports

Oil flows via Russia's Ust-Luga port in the Baltic Sea appear to have paused in the aftermath of an alleged Ukrainian drone attack, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 30, citing shipping data and a source with knowledge of the oil deliveries.

A a source in the Security Service of Ukraine told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine hit the Andreapol oil pumping station in Russia's Tver Oblast with drones overnight on Jan. 29.

"The Russians even had to shut down the main pipeline that supplies oil to the Ust-Luga terminal in Leningrad Oblast," the source said.

A drop in shipping activity at the port appears to back up these claims, according to Bloomberg. Oil deliveries from Ust-Luga fell to zero on Jan. 29, a source with knowledge of the shipments said.

Shipping data indicates that a vessel left the port early on Jan. 29, but shows a gap thereafter. Bloomberg's source did not provide a reason for the sudden decline.

The Andreapol pumping station is part of the Baltic Pipeline System-2, operated by Russian state-owned oil pipeline company Transneft. Its pipeline network supplies oil to the Ust-Luga port.

The port processed about 650,000 barrels crude per day in 2024, representing approximately 20% of Russia's total seaborne crude supply, according to Bloomberg.

Ukraine regularly targets Russian oil facilities with long-range drone strikes, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies to the Russian military and reduce Moscow's energy export revenues. Oil profits are a crucial source of funding for Russia's war chest.

What’s behind Zelensky’s recent round of sanctions on top pro-Russian politicians, propagandists, energy mogul?

In late January, President Volodymyr Zelensky slapped sanctions on 18 people, both Russians and Ukrainians. The list included 10 Ukrainian nationals, four Russians, and four people with both Ukrainian and Russian citizenship. Among them were Ukrainian politicians spreading Russian narratives for y…

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova