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Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Platforms 1,500km Away in Rare Caspian Sea Cross-Border Strike
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SOF) have carried out a precision drone strike on three Russian offshore drilling platforms operated by Lukoil in the Caspian Sea, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on January 11.
The Ukrainian military reported direct hits on the Vladimir Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin, and Valery Grayfer platforms—key assets in Russia’s Caspian energy infrastructure. These platforms, located in the northern part of the sea, are known to support the logistical and energy needs of Russian military operations.
1/3🔥 Ukrainian SOF struck three drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea
— SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) January 11, 2026
On the night of January 11, 2026, SOF units carried out strikes against Lukoil corporation drilling platforms in the waters of the Caspian Sea. pic.twitter.com/UnBo4PevW0
According to the General Staff, the extent of damage is still being assessed. No fires were detected at the strike locations, based on satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS monitoring system. This suggests that the drones likely hit structural components without igniting oil or gas stored on the platforms.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces later confirmed responsibility for the strikes. According to the official SOF statement, the operation was conducted during the night of January 11.
This marks the second time Ukrainian forces have struck infrastructure in the Caspian region. In late 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out multiple drone attacks targeting the same Lukoil platforms, forcing them offline. The recent strike appears aimed at preventing repairs and increasing recovery costs.
Alongside the Caspian operation, the Ukrainian military reported a successful strike on a Russian Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system in the vicinity of Baranycheve, Luhansk region. According to the General Staff, the system was destroyed in a secondary explosion following the initial impact.
Separately, Ukrainian forces targeted a logistics depot of Russia’s 49th Combined Arms Army near Novotroitske in occupied Kherson region. The facility was reportedly used to supply frontline units and its destruction is expected to degrade Russian logistical capabilities.
The Filanovsky oil field is one of the largest in Russia’s sector of the Caspian Sea, with estimated reserves of 129 million tons of oil and 30 billion cubic meters of gas.
It began production in 2016 and reached its designed output of 6 million tons per year within two years. The field also serves as a processing hub for output from other regional platforms via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
The Yuri Korchagin field, Lukoil’s first Caspian development, entered commercial operation in 2010. Its reserves are estimated at 77.8 million tons of oil, with an annual production capacity of 2.3 million tons of oil and 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas.
Earlier, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces used FP-2 drones to strike a fuel train at the Hvardiiske oil depot in occupied Crimea and targeted a Russian repair unit near Hirne in Donetsk region, aiming to disrupt logistics and reduce enemy combat readiness, according to the General Staff.
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