The northwestern port suffered damage this week when it was targeted by drones in a previous attack claimed by Ukraine’s military.
| Photo Credit: AFP
A drone strike claimed by Ukraine triggered a fire at Russia’s Baltic port of Ust-Luga as the regional governor on Sunday (March 29, 2026) reported new damage at the major exporting hub hit for a second time in days.
Ukraine has intensified retaliatory attacks on Russian infrastructure — including refineries, oil depots and ports — saying they are justified as part of the effort to cut revenues funding Russia’s offensive.
“There is damage to the port of Ust-Luga. There were no casualties,” Russian regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said on social media.
He said that rescuers were working to extinguish a fire at the port, a key hub for Russian fertilisers, oil and coal exports.
Thirty six drones were destroyed overnight in the region, Mr. Drozdenko added.
‘High price’
Ukraine’s SBU security service later Sunday (March 29, 2026) claimed the attack saying its drones “successfully struck” the Ust-Luga oil terminal.
“The SBU, together with the Defence Forces, continues systematic work to reduce the enemy’s financial and logistical capabilities,” acting head of the SBU, Yevgeny Khmara, said in a statement.
“Russia will pay a high price for its aggression,” Mr. Khmara said, vowing that such attacks “will continue”.
The northwestern port suffered damage this week when it was targeted by drones in a previous attack claimed by Ukraine’s military.
“Over the past week the SBU has already successfully struck the enemy’s oil infrastructure in the Baltic Sea four times,” the security service said.
Ukraine on Monday (March 23, 2026) claimed an attack on another major Russian Baltic port, Primorsk. The black smoke from the fire could be seen on satellite images.
A Ukrainian drone also killed a man in Russia’s Belgorod region, its governor said on Sunday (March 29, 2026).
The civilian was killed after two drone strikes hit the border city of Grayvoron, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, blaming the Ukrainian military.
Belgorod, which borders Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, has frequently been hit with drone attacks, with Russian officials reporting multiple civilian injuries and damage to homes and vehicles across the region in recent weeks.
Russia meanwhile fired 442 drones and one missile in its latest night-time offensive, with 380 UAVs shot down or intercepted, Kyiv’s air force said Sunday (March 29, 2026).
Published – March 29, 2026 09:44 pm IST
