Ukraine has launched a drone strike on Russian oil platforms in the Caspian Sea, putting a major production platform out of service, Ukraine’s Security Service, SBU, reported on Thursday.
The attack was carried out by “Alpha” special operations unit of the SBU.
“At least four strikes were recorded on the platform. As a result, oil and gas production from more than 20 wells it services has stopped,” one source told local media.
The attack on Filanovsky oil platform, one of Russia’s largest assets in the Caspian Sea, marks the first Russian strike on Russian offshore energy facilities since the start of the war in 2022. At least four drones struck the platform, halting oil extraction at over 20 oil and gas wells, an unnamed source within the SBU said. With a daily production capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil, the Filanovsky field was discovered in 2005 and inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2016. The site has proven reserves of up to 129 million tons of oil and 30 billion cubic meters of gas.
It was not clear where the drone was launched from. Video footage of the attack was shared in social media. Local residents have reported explosions overnight.
The unprecedented long-range attack on a Russian offshore platform at the Caspian Sea, 700 km from the frontline, underlines the Ukrainian army’s expanding capabilities to reach deep into Russia. The Security Service said Thursday’s attack, like attacks launched previously, was part of a campaign to undermine Russia’s energy sector. “The SBU continues successful operations against Russia’s oil and gas industry, continually expanding the geography. ‘Cotton ’ in the Caspian Sea is another reminder that every enterprise supporting Russia’s war effort is a legitimate target—no matter where it is located,” the source said.
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