Ukraine drone attack hits Russian Baltic port, governor says | News
Ukrainian Forces Target Russian Port, President Zelenskyy Confirms Strikes on Tankers
Published May 3, 2026
Ukrainian forces conducted a drone attack on the Russian Baltic Sea port of Primorsk, according to local officials. The strikes occurred amid ongoing accusations between Kyiv and Moscow regarding civilian casualties from recent air raids.
Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that while the strike did not lead to an oil spill, it did spark a fire in the town that has since been extinguished. He noted that over 60 drones were intercepted in the northwestern region during the same period.
Primorsk, a significant outlet for oil exports with a capacity of one million barrels per day, has faced multiple attacks in recent months as Ukraine intensifies its operations against Russian energy infrastructure. These developments come as U.S.-brokered negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine have stalled.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces also targeted two shadow fleet tankers near the entrance of the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. In a message on Telegram, Zelenskyy emphasized, “These tankers had been actively used to transport oil – not anymore.” He affirmed Ukraine’s commitment to enhancing its long-range military capabilities across air, sea, and land.
Both Ukraine and Russia are engaged in a persistent cycle of drone warfare, with numerous explosive-laden drones launched daily. Recent reports indicate that Russian regions were also impacted by drone attacks over the weekend. Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov confirmed that a 77-year-old man died in a drone strike in a village on Saturday. Additionally, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that four drones were intercepted en route to the Russian capital.
In the western region of Smolensk, Governor Vasily Anokhin reported that three individuals, including a child, were injured in a drone attack on an apartment building on Sunday.
Attacks in Ukraine
In response, Russian drone strikes across various parts of Ukraine resulted in at least three fatalities, local officials reported on Sunday. In the Odesa region, a key area for export terminals, Governor Oleh Kiper announced that two individuals were killed, including a truck driver at a port. Kiper noted that enemy drones struck three residential buildings, damaging additional facilities related to port infrastructure.
Elsewhere, Russian attacks in the frontline region of Kherson led to one confirmed death. Ukraine’s air force indicated that Russia launched 268 drones and one ballistic missile during the overnight assaults.
In eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian troops are advancing towards the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region.
