Giant fire rages for second day at Russian Baltic port of Primosrk

An oil depot in the Baltic port of Primorsk in northwestern Russia has been on fire for a second day following an attack by Ukrainian drones, Radio Liberty reported on Tuesday,

Citing satellite imagery, Radio Liberty said that a thick pall of smoke coming from the oil depot was clearly visible despite the cloudy weather, while Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+, which monitors news of strikes on Russia, also reported that the fire was continuing to burn.

On Monday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that a Transneft oil terminal had been struck by Ukrainian drones in the port of Primorsk, although Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko, claimed on Monday that the fire had broken out following debris falling from an Ukrainian drone.

The loading of crude oil has now resumed at the port, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The extent of the damage is as yet unknown. If the port does not resume full operations in the near future, industry companies and the Russian budget will suffer significant losses, one source told Novaya Europe.

The port of Primorsk, 137km from St. Petersburg, is the largest export hub for Urals crude, and can normally handle up to 1 million barrels of oil per day. Last year, due to an attack by Ukrainian drones, the port temporarily reduced its oil loading volumes.