Ukraine Disables Major Russian Oil Platform in the Caspian Sea for the First Time
Ukrainian security forces have for the first time disrupted Russia’s oil production in the Caspian Sea, hitting a major offshore platform operated by Lukoil.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Suspilne.
Long-range drones belonging to the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SSU) Special Operations Center “Alpha” struck the Filanovsky oil platform, which is operated by Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft. The facility is among Russia’s largest proven fields in the Caspian sector.
Sources say at least four impacts were recorded on the platform, forcing the shutdown of oil and gas extraction from more than 20 wells serviced by the installation.
The Filanovsky field holds an estimated 129 million tons of oil and 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas, with extracted hydrocarbons typically routed for export via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
An SSU source described the strike as part of a broader campaign to degrade Russia’s wartime energy infrastructure. “The ‘cotton’ in the Caspian Sea is a reminder that any enterprise supporting Russia’s war effort is a legitimate target – wherever it is located,” the statement reads.
Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian refineries and oil logistics hubs throughout 2024–2025, aiming to restrict fuel flows to the Russian military and weaken the Kremlin’s wartime economy.
Coordinated actions by the SSU, Special Operations Forces, Defence Intelligence, and the State Border Guard Service have taken approximately 20% of Russia’s refining capacity offline, contributing to fuel shortages and logistical strain across the country.
As The Gaze previously reported, the Russian port Tuapse on the Black Sea suspended fuel exports, and the local oil refinery stopped operating after a Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire and halted oil processing.
Read more on The Gaze: Why Ukraine Should be Allowed to Attack Russian Oil Refineries – Benefits for the US and EU