No more escorts: Ukraine obliterates Russian Baltic ports

The European containment of Russia’s shadow fleet has transitioned into a phase of active maritime interdiction, exemplified by the Franco-British seizure of the tanker Deyna. Concurrently, the Kremlin's strategic calculus regarding energy market immunity has failed as Western states prioritize geopolitical pressure over price stability. Russia's efforts to militarize commercial shipping through naval convoys and private contractors remain insufficient due to naval overstretch. This tactical dilemma was bypassed by Ukrainian long-range drone strikes against the Primorsk and Ust-Luga terminals, which halted critical Baltic exports. Consequently, the threat has shifted from high-seas transit risk to the total disruption of land-based export infrastructure.

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