Ukraine strikes third Russian oil platform in Caspian Sea PHOTO

Long-range drones operated by the Alpha Center for Special Operations of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) have struck an oil production platform belonging to Russia’s energy giant Lukoil on the Caspian Sea shelf, sources within the Ukrainian security service confirmed.

A source told the SBU that this marks the third Russian oil platform in the Caspian Sea to be hit by Ukrainian drones, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

The latest strike targeted a drilling installation at the Rakushchne field, named after Valeriy Graifer. Footage from the drone’s onboard camera reportedly recorded a precise impact in the area of the platform’s gas-turbine unit.

Previously, SBU-operated drones struck ice-resistant oil production platforms at the Filanovsky and Korchagin fields, also located in the Caspian Sea. Those attacks reportedly led to the suspension of production processes at the affected facilities.

Commenting on the strikes, a source emphasized that “all objects that finance aggression against Ukraine are absolutely legitimate targets.”

In the broader regional context, information regarding such incidents remains fragmented. Russian authorities do not always confirm strikes on oil-producing facilities and have previously claimed that Ukrainian drones were intercepted and downed. Nevertheless, earlier reports cited drone attacks on the Filanovsky and Korchagin platforms on December 12, as well as other incidents in the Caspian Sea.

On December 1, it was reported that Ukrainian forces had carried out at least 14 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries. Ukrainian armed forces conducted numerous drone strikes on Russian oil-processing facilities in November, marking the highest monthly total since the start of the full-scale war.

By Vafa Guliyeva