Ukraine targets Russian oil port again

Another Ukrainian drone has struck Russia’s Black Sea port of Tuapse, the Ukrainian military has said.

IMAGE: Flags of Russia and Ukraine. Getty Images

Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces (SDF) has struck the infrastructure of the Tuapse seaport and the Tuapse Oil Refinery in the Krasnodar Territory of Russia, it said.

Brent’s price has felt some upward pressure following the attack – the fourth on the port in a week, according to Reuters – seen as an attempt to curb oil revenues funding the conflict.

With an estimated production capacity of 12 million mt/year of oil, the Tuapse oil terminal and refinery “are important production complexes and logistics hubs that provide a link between the production, processing and export of Russian oil,” Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said.

The strike has started a fire in the oil and gas mixture in the tanks, according to SBU’s statement.

Russia’s oil revenues have risen since the Middle East conflict drove global prices higher, aided by renewed demand from India after a US waiver allowed sales of Russian crude already loaded on tankers.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted key Russian export hubs – Tuapse and Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, and Ust-Luga and Primorsk on the Baltic – using drones, in an effort to curb Moscow’s ability to capitalise on higher oil prices.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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