A drone attack caused a fire at Russia’s Ust-Luga port on the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, injuring three workers and cutting power to a nearby station, regional authorities said. The strike hit one of Russia’s most important outlets for oil, petroleum products and grain exports, as the Baltic states warned of a growing drone threat across the region.
Leningrad Region Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko reported the incident on Telegram, citing preliminary information. He said emergency teams had responded to the fire in the port area in Russia’s north-west and that a power station had been taken offline. Officials have not yet said how long port operations may be affected.
FAKTA
- What happened: A drone attack caused a fire in the port area of Ust-Luga, in Russia’s north-western Leningrad region, on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
- Casualties: Three workers were injured, according to regional governor Aleksandr Drozdenko.
- Air defences: Russian forces shot down 146 drones over the Leningrad region during the attack, the governor said.
- Power cut: A power station was cut off as a result of the attack.
- Wider alert: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia warned of a drone threat on Wednesday, and Finland introduced temporary partial airspace and maritime restrictions.
- Verification: Reuters said it could not immediately independently confirm the governor’s report.
Fire at a key export hub
Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s largest Baltic ports and a major outlet for crude oil, refined products, grain and other goods. A lengthy disruption there can affect export flows, and the fire has raised fresh questions about the safety of energy infrastructure along the Baltic coast. The Leningrad region is also home to a major oil refinery and the city of St Petersburg.
Authorities have not named those behind the attack and have not confirmed its full impact. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Baltic neighbours raise the alarm
The incident added to security concerns around the Baltic Sea, where drone activity has become a regular worry for governments in the region. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia warned of a possible drone threat on Wednesday, while Finland restricted parts of its airspace and nearby sea areas temporarily as a precaution.
Strikes on energy sites continue
The Ust-Luga fire follows a run of attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. On Monday, a drone struck the Kirishi refinery in the same region, setting the plant on fire and killing a woman, according to Reuters. Kirishi is Russia’s second-largest oil refinery.
Ukraine has in recent months stepped up strikes against Russian refineries, export terminals and other energy sites, aiming to cut the revenue Moscow earns from oil. Russian forces, for their part, have intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities.
The attack came as US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine entered their second day in Abu Dhabi. The delegations met for more than four hours on Tuesday in their first trilateral session since February, but no ceasefire has been announced, and the fighting continues on both sides.
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