Drones targeted Russia's largest maritime trade port, Ust-Luga.

In the night of Saturday, January 4, unidentified drones attacked the largest Russian maritime trading port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region. Russian Telegram channels circulated videos showing explosions at the port, and the attack on Ust-Luga was confirmed by Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council.

Videos have been shared on social media showing the operation of Russian air defense systems, as well as the moment of the explosion within the port area. Despite the explosion footage, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have shot down one UAV. Notably, the governor of the Leningrad region reported four supposedly downed drones.

“Ust-Luga has become one of the main points for the export of Russian oil, gas, coal, and other resources following the imposition of Western sanctions. The revenues from exports are used to fund the war. Additionally, it facilitates the militarization of the Baltic region and serves as a hub for the shadow fleet. The port is located at a strategically important point in the Baltic Sea, allowing Russia to maintain a naval presence in the region, including shipments for military needs,” – stated Andriy Kovalenko.

The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation added that the port in Ust-Luga has become a sort of alternative to European maritime routes and ports. Thus, the port has become the primary access point to Asian markets, particularly to China and India. According to Kovalenko, thanks to the port in Ust-Luga, Russia can exert pressure on the Baltic countries, as well as Poland and other nations in the region, by controlling strategic maritime transport.

The press service of the General Staff and the Russian Ministry of Defense did not comment on the attack on the port.

The Ust-Luga port is located 70 km from the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. It was from there that a Chinese bulk carrier departed at the end of November, cutting data transmission cables between four countries. It was reported that the anchor of the bulk carrier dragged along the seabed for 160 km and severed cables between Lithuania and Sweden, as well as Finland and Germany.

At the end of December, a Russian tanker, Eagle S, transporting oil from Russia to Egypt, was also detained in the Baltic Sea. Its crew is suspected of intentionally severing the power transmission line between Finland and Estonia on December 25. The Russian vessel was passing nearby at the time of the incident and was soon detained by the Finnish Coast Guard. In addition to the electrical cable, four communication cables were also damaged.