Ukraine attacks oil pipeline in Russia

MOSCOW, Apr 05 (AFP): A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil pipeline near the key Russian Baltic port of Primorsk early Sunday, with Russia acknowledging an oil spill but insisting there was no damage.

Ukraine confirmed it staged the latest strike on the port, near the border with Finland, that plays an important role in Russia's oil exports.

Russian air defences shot down 19 drones in the Leningrad region and debris from one "damaged a section of the oil pipeline near the port of Primorsk, and the pipeline is being safely burned out," regional governor Alexander Drozdenko initially said on Telegram.

But two hours later, he wrote: "According to updated information, the oil pipeline in the area of the port of Primorsk was not damaged."

"The fuel leak occurred due to a shrapnel hit on one of the fuel tanks. The consequences have already been dealt with," he added. No casualties were reported.