Ukraine hits Russian oil assets, including "shadow fleet" tankers

Ukrainian drones hit key Russian oil infrastructure on Sunday, including a key loading port in the Baltic Sea and two tankers that Ukraine alleged were used to illegally transport Russian crude oil, in violation of sanctions. They were among a wave of strikes targeting Russia's oil assets, on which Ukraine has focused its attacks recently. A nighttime drone strike sparked a blaze at Russia's largest oil exporting port on the Baltic Sea, the port of Primorsk, according to Russian regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko. The port, operated by Russia's state oil firm Transneft, is capable of handling hundreds of thousands of barrels per day. Primorsk, which was targeted multiple times in March, lies over 620 miles from Ukraine, between the Russian-Finnish border and Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg. Ukrainian drones have been striking Russian oil tankers increasingly often in recent weeks, as Ukraine seeks to diminish Russia's ability to export oil and offset Russia's financial gains since the war in Iran raised oil prices. Enforcing attacks on Russia's two main ports in the Baltic Sea, including Primorsk, have been the main targets of Ukrainian strikes. Together, the two ports account for around 40% of Russia's oil exports. Local Gov. Drozdenko said that Sunday's drone strike did not cause an oil spill, but gave no immediate further comment regarding casualties or damage. …