Ukrainian drone attacks on two key Russian ports in the Gulf of Finland are significantly hindering oil transport and impacting Russia’s revenue.
Ukraine Targets Russian Oil Ports
For the past week, Ukraine has intensified drone strikes against Primorsk, near the Finnish border, and Ust-Luga, close to Estonia – Russia’s two most important ports in the Gulf of Finland.
The attacks have damaged infrastructure and caused fires, leading to the suspension of terminal operations and a reduction in Russian oil product exports via “shadow fleets.”
Significant Impact on Russian Revenue
Russia exports 60% of its oil through the Baltic Sea, and the Ukrainian drone strikes on its major oil ports have halted a substantial volume of transport – estimated at up to 40% – of Russian oil products, including fuel oil.
This directly impacts the Russian budget, which relies on these revenues to fund the war in Ukraine, according to Estonian public broadcaster reports.
Effectiveness Compared to Sanctions
“No sanctions have proven as effective since the beginning of the war as what Ukraine has done recently,” stated Alan Vaht, from the management board of the fuel company Terminal Energia.
If Russia previously exported an average of approximately 3.5 million barrels of oil per day, and Primorsk and Ust-Luga are incapacitated, Russia could be losing around $50 million in daily oil revenue, the expert noted.
Increased Regional Security Measures
Finnish Defence Forces announced on Friday, March 27th, that they had strengthened surveillance and protection of the country’s territorial integrity, particularly in the south-east and over the Gulf of Finland, in response to the intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil ports in the St. Petersburg region.
On Sunday, March 28th, drones penetrated Finnish airspace in the south-east of the country.
Tanker Congestion in the Gulf of Finland
According to data from the Estonian Navy, over 40 tankers of the shadow fleet are currently anchored in various locations in the Gulf of Finland, awaiting the opportunity to enter Russian ports.
