Shipments through Prymorsk fell 13%. At Novorossiysk the drop was 38%, and at Ust-Luga it reached 43%. Those are the updated figures for Russian oil export losses after Ukrainian attacks on the ports, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service recorded them.
Zelensky cautioned that Russia may be understating its own numbers. Ukraine, he said, will keep up its operations to cut Russia’s oil revenues and export volumes.
Plans to block defense investment
The same intelligence work turned up something else. Ukrainian intelligence obtained Russian documents confirming an intention to cut Ukraine off from investment under Drone Deals and to derail bilateral agreements on security cooperation and weapons production. Zelensky said Russia will focus special effort on countering Ukraine’s cooperation with Middle Eastern countries and on Zatoka.
He also pointed to Africa, where the number of Russian personnel has gone up by 8,000. Russia is trying to set up drone supply and production there, he said, along with training.
“According to our assessment, the expansion of such militarized activity by Russia could inevitably lead, unfortunately, to the modernization and strengthening of terrorist organizations, cross-border crime, and instability in regions around the world that are critical from a migration perspective,” Zelensky said. “It is important to counter this together – we will coordinate with partners.”
Other developments
Analysts quoted by Mezha say lower Russian oil exports could affect global oil prices and energy security in some regions, particularly while fuel costs are climbing.
In related news, the EU postponed a full ban on maritime services for Russian crude within its 20th sanctions package. Talks with G7 partners continue while the bloc weighs market effects and timing. Ukraine’s General Staff reported strikes that hit Russian ammunition depots, Tornado-S positions and command posts. EU commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned that Russia may deploy seven to nine million drones in 2026 and urged faster EU defence integration and use of Ukrainian drone expertise.
