Ukraine drone strike hits Russian nuclear plant, ignites large fire at Novatek's Ust-Luga terminal

Ukraine drone strike hits Russian nuclear plant, ignites large fire at Novatek's Ust-Luga terminal

July 02, 2025

Ukraine's ongoing drone attacks on Russian territory have escalated, with significant impacts on critical infrastructure. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone strike damaged the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant and sparked a large fire at Novatek's Ust-Luga terminal.

The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located just 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, reported that a drone attack caused damage to an auxiliary transformer, reducing the operating capacity of reactor No. 3 by 50%. The plant's press service confirmed that radiation levels remained normal and there were no injuries [3].

Meanwhile, in Russia's northern Leningrad region, at least 10 Ukrainian drones were downed over the Ust-Luga port, leading to a fire at the Novatek-operated terminal. The regional governor, Alexander Drozdenko, reported that firefighters and emergency services are working to extinguish the blaze, with no injuries reported [1].

The Ust-Luga terminal, which processes gas condensate into various oil products, is a major fuel export hub for Novatek, processing gas condensate for international markets, including Asia and Europe [1].

Russian air defense intercepted a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight across 13 regions, including Leningrad and Samara, as well as the Crimean Peninsula. The drone attacks have also targeted other industrial facilities, such as the Syzran oil refinery, causing production suspensions [3].

The Ukrainian military has stated that these strikes are in response to Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure deemed crucial to Moscow's military efforts [3].

The latest developments come as Ukraine celebrates its independence day on Sunday, marking the anniversary of its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called for maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war [2].

References:

[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/ukraine-drone-hits-russian-nuclear-plant-sparks-huge-fire-at-novatek-s-ust-luga-terminal-ce7c50dbdc81f225
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxy2v9dzgxo
[3] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/ukraine-drone-attacks-spark-fires-at-russia-s-kursk-nuclear-plant-novatek-s-ust-luga-terminal-ce7c50dbdc81f225