Huge fires at Russian oil facilities following Ukraine strikes, satellite images show

Recent strikes by Ukraine on key oil infrastructure in Russia’s Leningrad region have been captured through satellite images and confirmed by video footage. These attacks, near the city of St Petersburg—approximately 500 miles (800km) north of the Ukrainian border—left several facilities engulfed in flames. BBC Verify has verified that at least three oil sites were targeted since 23 March, disrupting operations and causing prolonged damage.

The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (Crea) reported that 22% of Russia’s 2025 oil exports originated from Primorsk, while 20% came from Ust-Luga. Recent data reveals no oil shipments were recorded in any of the three Baltic ports on 26 and 27 March, marking the first two-day stretch of halted activity since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Satellite images from 24 March depict massive smoke plumes rising from burning oil facilities in Primorsk. Additional footage shows fires at Ust-Luga and extensive damage at Kirishi on 27 March. Analysis using NASA’s FIRMS tool, which detects heat signatures, indicates Primorsk was still smoldering at 02:54 BST on Monday, with Ust-Luga showing heat activity at 12:28 on the same day.

“The strikes were aimed at demilitarising Russia’s oil arteries, refining capacity and crude export infrastructure,” said Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukrainian military drone forces. He noted the operation targeted these facilities between 23 and 28 March.

Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko stated the fires were contained by Sunday, though no casualties were reported. BBC Verify also confirmed video clips of the aftermath, including dramatic smoke plumes from Primorsk. Ukraine’s military claims Kirishi refinery is one of Russia’s largest oil-processing plants, producing fuels critical to supporting the aggressor state’s armed forces.

Reuters calculations suggest at least 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity was temporarily disabled on 25 March following initial strikes. Meanwhile, Crea’s analysis indicates Russia earned £7.1bn from oil exports during the final three weeks of March, as prices surged due to disruptions from the US-Israel war with Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Monday that allies have urged Kyiv to scale back attacks on Russia’s energy sector amid the global energy crisis. He emphasized that such efforts would cease if Moscow ceased targeting Ukraine’s energy system.

“Kyiv is likely attempting to offset the revenue windfall that Russian oil and gas exporters are otherwise currently enjoying,” remarked Alexander Lord, an analyst at the UK-based intelligence firm Sybelline. He added that prolonged war conditions could prompt the US to pressure Ukraine into halting these targeted strikes as part of broader strategies to stabilize global oil prices.

Additional reporting by Daniele Palumbo and Yaroslava Kiryukhina