The governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed that a fire broke out at the terminal operated by Novatek in the Ust-Luga port. He shared the information through his Telegram channel, noting that the incident did not result in any loss of life and that staff members were evacuated to safety.
According to the governor, emergency responders from the Ministry of Emergencies and Lenoblpozhspas were deployed to control and extinguish the blaze. Local authorities reported that Yuri Zapalatsky, the head of the regional administration, chaired the operational center during the response efforts.
Earlier, Telegram channels reported that the port terminal was on fire in Ust-Luga, in the Leningrad region. Local residents described hearing the sound of a drone followed by a series of explosions, adding to the tension surrounding the incident.
On January 18, the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a drone attack in the Leningrad region for the first time since the initiation of its special operation. Official updates from the Ministry of Defense indicated that air defense systems intercepted and shot down the unmanned aerial vehicle around 01:30 Moscow time.
Earlier remarks attributed to scientists and observers noted that fires around the world affect vast areas, sometimes comparing the scale of affected land to major regions. This context underscores the broader discussion about fire safety, disaster response, and the resilience of critical infrastructure in the region.