Russia's key Baltic oil facility catches fire as drones target region VIDEO

A major oil terminal in St. Petersburg caught fire following what was reported to be a Ukrainian drone attack early on June 3, according to footage and information published by the outlet ASTRA.

The affected facility, identified as JSC “Petersburg Oil Terminal,” is described as the largest oil transhipment complex in northwestern Russia. ASTRA said the fire broke out after drones struck the site in the morning, though the claims could not be independently verified.

According to Kommersant newspaper, the terminal is one of Russia’s largest oil product handling hubs in the Baltic region and serves as the biggest stevedoring company at the Big Port of St. Petersburg. The complex spans 37 hectares and includes 21 storage tanks designed for both light and dark petroleum products, with an annual throughput capacity of 12.5 million tonnes.

The terminal is classified as strategically important for Russia’s security and has been listed in the register of natural monopolies since 2000. Financial data from SPARK-Interfax shows that the company recorded revenue of 8.6 billion rubles and profit of 5.8 billion rubles in 2024, while handling 8.2 million tonnes of oil products in 2020.

The incident coincides with the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which is set to host foreign business representatives. ASTRA estimated that the distance between the terminal and the Expoforum venue, where the forum is being held, is approximately 17 kilometres.

Regional authorities have not directly commented on the reported strike on the terminal. The governor said only that 50 unmanned aerial vehicles had been shot down over the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova