Russia on Sunday alleged that Ukrainian forces carried out a drone attack on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, triggering a sharp fall in the capacity of one of its reactors and sparking a fire. Russian officials said the strike was part of a series of attacks that also hit energy infrastructure. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not yet confirmed the reported attack or provided independent details on the safety of the plant.
In a separate incident, a massive fire broke out at the Ust-Luga oil terminal near St. Petersburg, one of Russia’s major fuel export hubs operated by Novatek. The terminal, located around 800 km from the Ukrainian border, supplies tankers in the Baltic Sea.
🟪Russia’s Ust-Luga oil terminal near St. Petersburg is on fire — right as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day 🇺🇦.
The Novatek export hub, 800 km from the border, fuels tankers in the Baltic Sea. #Ukraine #Russia #UstLuga pic.twitter.com/u1IJeyM8rF
— The Global 202 (@theglobal202) August 24, 2025
Reports of the fire came as Ukraine marked its Independence Day, with Russian authorities blaming Kyiv for the blaze. Video footage circulating online showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the facility, though the authenticity of these videos could not be independently verified.
The alleged strikes have intensified concerns over the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in Russia amid the ongoing war, particularly with nuclear safety in focus.
