Ukraine struck Russia’s Vladimir Filanovsky oil field in the Caspian Sea with long-range drones early on Wednesday, halting production from more than 20 wells in the first Ukrainian attack on Moscow’s offshore energy infrastructure in the region, a Ukrainian security source said.
Four drones hit the platform operated by a Lukoil subsidiary, the source told Reuters, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The source said the strike successfully disrupted operations at Russia’s largest post-Soviet oil discovery.
Strategic target
The Vladimir Filanovsky field, discovered in 2005 and operational since 2016, holds reserves of 129 million tons of oil and 30 billion cubic meters of gas, according to Russian energy data. The field’s output typically flows through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system to export terminals on the Black Sea.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had downed 287 Ukrainian drones overnight but made no specific mention of the Caspian Sea strike. The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the oil platform attack.
Expanding campaign
Ukraine has escalated strikes on Russian energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory using domestically produced long-range drones, targeting refineries, fuel depots, and power stations as part of a campaign to degrade Moscow’s war-making capacity.
The Caspian Sea strike marks a significant expansion of Ukraine’s operational reach, with the Vladimir Filanovsky platform located more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The attack demonstrates Kyiv’s growing ability to hit strategic targets far from the front lines of the nearly three-year war.
Lukoil did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russian officials have not confirmed damage to the platform or provided casualty figures.
Ukraine rarely publicly claims responsibility for strikes deep inside Russia but has said such operations are legitimate responses to Moscow’s full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.
