A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's northwestern port of Primorsk has for the first time forced the suspension of loadings at its key western oil terminal, according to two industry sources and Ukraine's military,
Reuters reports.
Primorsk has a capacity to load about 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, making it a key export hub for Russian oil and the largest port in western Russia. The port loads a flagship Russian Urals oil grade as well as about 300,000 bpd of diesel.
The drone strike, the first reported such attack on the port, set fire to two vessels, the industry sources said.
Kyiv has intensified its drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as it pushes for talks to end the war in Ukraine, trying to cut Russia off from its main source of revenue - crude oil sales - by limiting export capabilities.
Ukraine's SBU security agency said it had hit the Primorsk port with drones overnight, leading to a fire and the suspension of loading operations.
Oil loadings from Primorsk were suspended early on Friday, two industry sources familiar with oil loadings from the port said. It was not clear if the operations had resumed at the time of writing.
The Russian governor of the region around the port, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed that a drone attack had set fire to one vessel and a pumping station but did not report any suspension of operations.
Drozdenko later said the fire had been extinguished and that there was no risk of an oil spill. More than 30 drones were destroyed over the region, he said.
The Transneft pipeline operator operating the port and Russia's Energy Ministry declined to comment.
Oil prices rose by nearly 2% after the attack on Primorsk suspended loadings, outweighing pressure from oversupply concerns and weaker U.S. demand risks.
