Russian gas producer Novatek’s LNG plant located next to an export terminal in the Baltic port of Ust-Luga went up in flames early on Sunday morning.
Local media sources claim the facility was a victim of a Ukrainian drone attack.
Social media footage posted overnight showed the terminal facility, which processes gas condensate into naphtha, kerosene, diesel fraction and fuel oil, engulfed in flames that lit up the night sky as far away as St Petersburg.
Russian media outlet Fontanka said that three tankers were moored near the fire but so far there have been no reports of any damage to vessels.
Available footage suggests that the fire was raging quite a distance from where ships are moored.
According to Russian news agency Ria Novosti, the fire was quickly localised to one tank with a capacity of 100 cubic metres that caught fire. Footage released by Ria Novosti later on Sunday, at about noon, showed firefighters still struggling to put down the flames.
In a separate statement, Novatek attributed the incident to “external influences”. No personnel were injured, the fire was contained and damage would be assessed at a later point, the company added.
Operations at Novatek’s gas terminal are understood to have been disrupted, following an evacuation of personnel.
Novatek said, without clarifying further, that “technological processes” were stopped, while “production processes continued to operate as normal”.
Novatek’s plant is located next to a specialised port terminal where products and gas condensate are loaded onto ships and sent for export.
According to Fontanka, the Novatek facility was hit by two drones that had earlier been spotted approaching St Petersburg before diverting to Ust-Luga.
Leningrad region governor Alexander Drozdenko put the entire Kingisepp district in a state of high alert to avert attacks on critical infrastructure.
The governor added that efforts to put out the fire were being made in collaboration with the local fire brigade and the Russian Emergencies Ministry.
Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on any involvement in the alleged attack but have in recent months stepped up attacks on Russian military and oil sector facilities.
