Russia says a large-scale Ukrainian drone assault sparked a fire at a major Baltic export hub, marking a sharp escalation in cross-border strikes between the two sides.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, air defences intercepted and destroyed 389 drones overnight on Wednesday, with most targeting regions near Ukraine and areas around Moscow.
One strike ignited a blaze at the strategic port of Ust-Luga, a crucial hub for oil, coal and fertiliser exports on the Gulf of Finland. Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said the fire was being brought under control, with no casualties reported.
Ukraine’s military confirmed targeting energy infrastructure at the port, describing the attack as part of efforts to weaken Russia’s war funding.
The strike came just a day after Russia launched nearly 1,000 drones at Ukraine in a 24-hour barrage, killing at least eight people and damaging residential areas, including in the historic western city of Lviv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault as “absolute depravity” and vowed retaliation.
Meanwhile, the conflict spilled further into NATO territory. Estonia said a drone entering from Russian airspace struck a chimney at the Auvere power plant near Narva, while Latvia reported a separate drone crash within its borders. Both countries said the drones were Ukrainian and had veered off course.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Latvian counterpart Evika Siliņa stressed the incidents were unintended, backing Ukraine’s right to self-defence.
Elsewhere, Russia reported damage to power and water infrastructure in the border region of Belgorod, where a drone strike killed a civilian. Additional fatalities were reported in Russian-controlled areas of Kherson.
Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil depots, refineries and ports in recent weeks, framing them as retaliation and a strategy to cut Moscow’s energy revenues.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Talks involving the United States have yet to yield progress, with Zelensky warning that Russia is not ready to move towards peace.
