Ukrainian drone attacks on Monday damaged the Baltic Sea ports of Vysotsk and Ust-Luga, a major oil exporting outlet, and caused a power blackout in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, authorities said.

Attacks on Russian Energy Targets

Local governor Alexander Drozdenko said on the Telegram messaging app that 56 Ukrainian drones have been shot down in recent attacks in the region. Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s largest outlets for exporting oil and other products. Ukraine has previously targeted the port as well as other Russian energy targets in efforts to undermine Moscow’s war efforts.

Exports from the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, along with the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk reached nearly a record-high 3 million barrels per day in June, according to sources. The spate of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries in Russia has led to fuel shortages, price spikes and long queues at fuel filling stations.

Other Regions Report Attacks

Several other Russian and Russian-controlled regions also reported Ukrainian attacks on Monday. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea, said a woman was killed in the city of Kerch due to a drone strike. The authorities in Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city and home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, reported a power blackout due to a Ukrainian attack.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.