The Leningrad region in northwestern Russia faced a massive drone assault during the night of May 2-May 3, marking one of the largest reported raids on the province to date.
Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko initially reported the destruction of 35 drones, with the figure eventually rising to over 60 as the attack continued toward dawn.
Russian officials stated that the primary target of the operation was the commercial sea port of Primorsk. While Drozdenko claimed the fire resulting from the attack was extinguished without an oil spill, local reports and OSINT analysts suggest that an oil loading terminal may have been damaged.
Furthermore, analysts indicated that the fire might reflect a strike on a “Pantsir” air defense system protecting the facility.
As a result of the regional drone threat, St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport implemented “Carpet” emergency plans, halting all flight arrivals and departures for at least five hours.
The Russian defense ministry claimed that its forces intercepted a total of 334 drones over 16 different regions overnight.
The escalation aligns with Ukraine’s ongoing strategic campaign to degrade Russia’s energy logistics. Ukrainian forces have previously targeted Baltic Sea export hubs, including the Ust-Luga and Vysotsk terminals, to reduce Moscow’s war revenue.
In April, the Ukrainian General Staff confirmed successful strikes on multiple refineries and pumping stations deep inside Russian territory, describing them as critical to the Russian military’s supply chain.