#Russian oil companies are preparing to start forced production cuts as they are unable to sell millions of barrels of oil, #Reuters reports, citing three oil executives and more than 10 traders, refining executives, and port agents.
Volumes from #Russia's western ports of #Primorsk, #Ust_Luga, and #Novorossiisk in January were down 17% from a year earlier, and the cost to transport a cargo from #Russia's #Pacific port of #Kozmino to #China up fivefold in January,
#Finland will conduct its own investigation after an explosion in a tanker in #Russian #Ust_Luga, #Finnish Prime Minister #Petteri_Orpo said.
According to #Orpo, #Finnish authorities are investigating the situation, and #Finland has increased its readiness to respond to oil spills.
A day earlier, #Rosmorrechflot said there was an explosion in the engine room on board the #Koala tanker while the main engine was being prepared for operation.
#Koala oil tanker is sinking at the #Ust_Luga sea port, according to #Russian Telegram channels. It is carrying 130 000 tons of mazut.
The vessel is registered in #Antigua and #Barbuda. Reportedly, it was ready to leave port when three explosions sounded in the engine room.
Authorities say there is no oil leak risk, and the ship has been cordoned off.
Earlier today, on the opposite end of #Russia, on #Sakhalin, a #Chinese oil tanker carrying diesel, #mazut, and coal ran aground.
#Ust_Luga typically handles 650,000 barrels per day—around 20% of #Russia’s total seaborne oil exports. The suspension of operations could have a major impact on global oil markets, as it coincides with previous unexplained reductions in #Russian oil flows.
By crippling key energy nodes, #Ukraine not only weakens #Russia’s military logistics but also disrupts its economic stability.
#Ukraine’s Drone Strike Halts Oil Exports at #Russia’s #Ust_Luga #Baltic_Port
Oil flows at #Russia’s key #Ust_Luga export terminal have reportedly stopped following a #Ukrainian drone strike on the #Baltic Pipeline System-2. A #Ukrainian Security Service (#SBU) official confirmed that their forces targeted the #Andreapol pumping station, which supplies oil to #Ust_Luga. #Bloomberg reports that as of 29 January, tanker departures have ceased, significantly disrupting #Russia’s crude exports.
On January 4, drones flew more than 900 kilometres and successfully hit the largest seaport in #Russia, #Ust_Luga, in #Russia's #Leningrad region.
On January 8, drones flew about 1,000 kilometres and hit an oil depot in #Engels that provides fuel for a military airfield.
On January 10, fires broke out in #Russia's #Rostov region due to "drone debris."
On January 11, #Russian-occupied #Crimea and a number of #Russian cities were under attack. There was a fire in the
