Ukraine trying to secure hydrocarbon resources supporting Russian invasion
Ukrainian strikes on the ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk have led Russia to strengthen anti-aircraft defense around critical sites in the Leningrad region (northwest), on the edge of the Baltic Sea, as announced by the regional governor on Friday, April 17.
“It was decided to strengthen the protection of the region’s airspace against drone attacks,” Governor Alexandre Drozdenko said on Telegram, following a meeting of authorities and leaders of essential infrastructure.
Additional mobile anti-aircraft defense units will be deployed around businesses and infrastructure
, composed of volunteer reservists offered three-year contracts, he said.
Critical ports for oil exports
Two ports in the Leningrad region, Ust-Luga and Primorsk, crucial for Russian exports of fertilizers, oil, and coal, have been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks recently.
Compared to the same period in 2025,
oil shipments were halved in the week following a drone attack on March 23
, according to calculations by the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research (Crea), an independent analysis group based in Helsinki.
Ukraine is trying to secure the hydrocarbon resources with which Moscow supports and finances the large-scale offensive that the Russian army has been conducting in Ukraine for over four years.
These attacks have increased as the war in the Middle East has caused a surge in prices that could help replenish Russian state coffers.
