Ukraine hits Russian vessel and Lukoil oil platform with drones in Caspian Sea
Illustrative photo: drones hit a Russian ship and a Lukoil platform in the Caspian Sea (sof.mil.gov.ua)
Overnight on December 19, Ukraine's Defense Forces carried out strikes on a number of military-economic targets of Russia in the Caspian Sea, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Special Operations Forces.
In particular, Ukrainian drones hit the Russian Navy Project 22460 patrol ship Okhotnik, which was operating near oil and gas infrastructure. Several drones struck the vessel; the extent of the damage is currently being clarified.
Additionally, a drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field, owned by Lukoil, was targeted. The platform supports oil and gas extraction, the export of which funds the Russian budget and is used to finance the war against Ukraine. The scale of the damage and the platform’s operational capacity are still being assessed.
According to the General Staff, a recently targeted RSP-6M2 radar system in temporarily occupied Crimea was also destroyed. It had been used to manage air traffic and enhance enemy capabilities.
The Special Operations Forces emphasized that Ukrainian forces continue to carry out asymmetric actions aimed at weakening the military and economic potential of the aggressor state.
SBU strikes on Russian oil facilities
As a reminder, on the morning of Friday, December 12, SBU drones disrupted operations at an oil platform in the Caspian Sea. This was the first time Ukraine struck a Russian facility related to oil extraction in this region.
Later that evening, SBU drones carried out a second strike on Russian oil platforms in the Caspian Sea, halting production processes.
On December 15, SBU drones struck Russian oil platforms in the Caspian Sea for the third time.
