The Ukrainian military says it has struck three Russian oil drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, an area that is vital to Central Asia’s role in trade linking China and Europe.
“Direct hits have been recorded,” the Ukrainian military said on Telegram on Sunday. “The extent of the damage is being assessed.”
The statement said the drilling infrastructure belongs to Russia’s Lukoil Corporation and it identified the targets as the V. Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin and Valery Grayfer platforms.
The Ukrainian military did not provide details about how it carried out the attack, though unverified video circulating on social media appeared to show an aerial drone approaching a platform during the operation.
Ukraine has used drones to conduct other strikes on Russian oil targets in the Caspian Sea in recent weeks, as well as long-range missions against oil installations in many parts of Russia. Five countries have shores along the Caspian: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan.
Ukrainian authorities say Russian energy infrastructure is a legitimate target because it generates revenue to support Russia’s invading forces in Ukraine as well as Russian air strikes on Kyiv and other civilian centers. Russia describes Ukrainian attacks on its oil industry as terrorism.
Ukrainian military operations have also hit infrastructure belonging to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) near the Russian port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, leading to diplomatic protests from Kazakhstan. The Central Asian country relies heavily on the port´s facilities for the transhipment of oil from Kazakh fields to international markets.
