Ukraine drone strikes force Russia’s Ust‑Luga oil terminal to half capacity in September

Reuters reports this, citing sources.

The reduction in operations was caused by damaged pipeline infrastructure due to Ukrainian drone strikes. This creates significant difficulties for Russian oil exports and may lead to supply disruptions.

Problems on the Ust-Luga route began after attacks on the Unecha pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region in early August. Unecha is one of the key transit hubs for oil transported to Ust-Luga.

The drone attacks also affected pumping through the Druzhba pipeline, which supplies oil to Belarus, Slovakia, and Hungary. Slovakia confirmed that transportation resumed on a test basis this week.

Reuters sources did not specify which section of the pipeline was damaged but confirmed that repair work is already underway. However, the timeline for full restoration has not yet been determined.

The reduced capacity at Ust-Luga will force Russia to redirect part of its export volumes to the ports of Primorsk and Novorossiysk, which may help mitigate losses for Russian oil exports.

Russian authorities have so far not commented on the scale of the damage or its impact on the shipment schedule. The pipeline and terminal operator, Transneft, has declined to make any statements.

• On the night of August 18, units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, in coordination with other Defense Forces units, struck the Nikolskoe oil pumping station in Russia’s Tambov region. Hungary criticized the attack, and Sybiha advised filing a complaint with Moscow.
• Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that on August 19, the Druzhba pipeline, which had completely stopped operating due to Ukrainian drone strikes, resumed operation.
• On August 22, the Madyar Birds unit of the Unmanned Systems Forces carried out a third drone attack on key facilities of the Russian Druzhba pipeline, which halted oil deliveries to Hungary.