Ukrainian forces have reportedly inflicted serious damage on a Russian warship operating in the Gulf of Finland.
The strikes mark a significant expansion of Kyiv’s campaign of long-range strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure, including in the Baltic Sea.
Su-34 Fullback Fighter-Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Sukhoi Su-34 Heading Into the Sky. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The vessel was identified as the Naro-Fominsk, and it was struck by multiple drones on Wednesday, November 11.
The attack occurred during a large Ukrainian strike operation that targeted the Ust-Luga oil export port.
The attack was first confirmed by Finnish defense officials, who reported that they detected a strike against a Russian vessel, but declined to provide details about the damage.
However, a briefing from Estonian military officials later revealed that the ship had sustained multiple impacts and that the strike caused casualties.
The update also revealed that the ship was unable to continue sailing independently.
The news comes as Ukraine intensifies its strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, now targeting Baltic ports responsible for exporting Russian petroleum products, and as Russia bombards Ukrainian cities with overnight strikes that often extend into the following morning and afternoon.
What Estonia Confirmed
On Friday, November 13, deputy commander of the Estonian Defense Forces division Colonel Aron Kalmus provided more details about the Ukrainian strike during a briefing. Kalmus said that the Naro-Fominsk was struck by more than three Ukrainian drones.
The attack reportedly resulted in damage serious enough to prevent the vessel from continuing its journey to St. Petersburg without support.
“It was hit by a significant number of drones. We also know quite precisely how many hit it,” Kalmus said.
“I would not go into detail because I would not want to make the other side’s job too easy by revealing what we can see and how. But it was hit by more than one, which the Defense Forces would consider chance; more than two, which the Defense would consider a coincidence; and more than three, which the Defense Forces would consider a pattern,” he continued.
The Estonian official went on to confirm “deaths and injuries.”
“The corvette initially began moving toward St. Petersburg under its own power but later stopped. It could not continue under its own power, and an additional escort vessel arrived, with which the corvette proceeded toward St. Petersburg,” Kalmus continued.
The Kind of Warship Ukraine Hit
The Naro-Fominsk is a Project 21631 Buyan-M-class missile corvette that belongs to Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
According to Janes, the ship was commissioned in December 2023 and measures around 74 meters in length. The ship, a corvette, has a displacement of 949 tonnes and a maximum speed of 25 knots.
Despite being a relatively small ship, it is equipped with systems that are capable of launching long-range missiles, including Kalibr cruise missiles.
Ukrainian authorities say that the ship is also capable of carrying Oniks anti-ship missiles. The ship is primarily designed for offensive operations, meaning it is more vulnerable to drone attacks.
Kalmus explained during the briefing that the corvette was not designed primarily for air defense, which made it difficult for its crew to intercept several incoming drones at once.
Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Russian Oil Port
The warship wasn’t the only target Ukraine successfully hit on Wednesday.
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, its forces successfully struck five petroleum storage tanks at the Ust-Luga facility, with a combined capacity of 150,000 cubic meters.
Ukraine also claimed that its forces hit a hydrocracking unit, an air-cooling system, a pumping station, and a pier used to load petroleum products onto tankers.
The extent of the damage, however, has not been independently verified.
Russian regional governor Aleksandr Drozdenko acknowledged that the attack had injured three workers and caused a fire.
The strikes are a significant problem for Moscow, too — not only is the port a major source of export revenue for Moscow, but the strikes indicate that Ukraine is successfully expanding its campaign of so-called “long-range sanctions.” In other words: Ukraine is targeting every energy-related site it can reach.
According to S&P Global, Ust-Luga handled an average of approximately 562,000 barrels of Russian oil per day in 2026, on top of 216,000 barrels of refined petroleum products.
If Ukraine continues to disrupt Russian oil and petroleum product storage facilities, as well as processing equipment and loading infrastructure, the Russian oil industry could soon find itself in major trouble.
NATO Aircraft Monitor Ukrainian Drones
Given the location of the strike, the operation did raise some concerns among NATO members that border the Gulf of Finland.
Estonian public broadcaster ERR noted that Ukrainian drones briefly entered Estonian airspace during the strikes.
NATO fighter jets stationed in the Baltic states were already airborne during the strikes on November 11, but Estonian military officials said that they decided against shooting down the drones because doing so could have posed safety risks.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
