Russia blames Ukraine for Attack on Baltic Gas Terminal

the Kremlin has accused Ukraine of orchestrating an attack that ignited a fire at a gas terminal located in the Baltic port of Ust-Luga over the weekend.

The targeted gas facility belongs to Novatek, Russia’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the incident occurred in the western port town near the Russian-Estonian border.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the action, stating, “The Kyiv regime continues to show its bestial face. They are striking civil infrastructure, people,” during a press briefing on Monday.

Notably, the gas terminal is situated more than 850 kilometers (530 miles) away from Ukraine.

This fire is the latest in a series of suspected attacks on Russia’s energy facilities by Ukraine. Last week, Kyiv claimed responsibility for two other attacks, one of which occurred in the same Leningrad region as Ust-Luga.

Both Russia and Ukraine have been utilizing explosive-laden drones to target locations beyond the frontlines, with both sides frequently reporting the interception of enemy devices over their territories.

In response to the attacks, Peskov assured that the Russian defense ministry and air defense resources are taking necessary measures to protect against such incidents.

Fortunately, local authorities reported no injuries resulting from the fire, which raged on Sunday morning, as all personnel had been successfully evacuated.

Moreover, the Kremlin labeled a strike on the city of Donetsk on Sunday as an act of “terrorism.”

The attack, involving artillery fire on a suburb of Donetsk—controlled by Russia and claimed to be annexed by Moscow—resulted in casualties. Local officials reported that at least 27 people were killed in the strike, which targeted a crowded market.

Peskov declared on Monday that the “special military operation” would persist to safeguard the population from perceived threats, using Moscow’s preferred terminology to describe its comprehensive military offensive in Ukraine.