This was it fourth attack on this facility in two weeks. According to a Russian task force in Krasnodar Krai, a drone operation caused the fire. A total of 128 people and 41 pieces of equipment are involved in the firefighting operation. The services reported no casualties.
Russian news outlet RTVI reported that at least two storage tanks at the Tuapse oil refinery had caught fire. Photos and videos circulating on social media show thick black smoke hovering over the area.
The website also reported that the terminal lost power. Russian military bloggers claimed there was a widespread power outage and internet outages in the city center.
The situation on site is terrible.
The Ukrainian side did not officially comment on this attack.
The latest attack follows a previous strike on April 28 that sparked fires in Tuapse, prompting evacuations amid fears of an environmental disaster.
Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratiev said that a “large-scale fire” had broken out at the refinery, adding that 164 workers and 46 pieces of equipment were sent to fight the fire, local residents were evacuated and a temporary shelter was organized at a local school.
Crisis in Tuapse
Ukrainian monitoring channel CyberBoroshno reported that at least four storage tanks were on fire, warning that the flames could spread to neighboring facilities. Later, the Exilenova+ website reported that further explosions were recorded, and a the fire spread significantly.
The General Staff of Ukraine confirmed the attack, saying that Ukrainian armed forces attacked the Tuapse oil refinery as part of actions aimed at weakening the “military and economic potential” of Russia.
Subsequent reports indicated that burning petroleum products leaked from damaged tanks onto nearby roads, damaging several vehicles.
Russian website Astra wrote that the fuel likely leaked from large storage tanks, and eyewitness footage shows the spread of contamination along a city street.
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Residents reported thick smoke visible even from the mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana, approximately 105 km away.
Russian authorities under pressure
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov to immediately go to Tuapse, and regional authorities announced state of emergency in the city district.
On April 30, Kondratiev announced that Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsevilev had visited the region, adding that the refinery fire had been extinguished.
The governor noted that specialists have started installing drainage systems and protective barriers around storage tanks to prevent further leaks oil to nearby rivers and the Black Sea. Rescue work is ongoing.
The facility was also a target attacks on April 16 and 20and it took about four days to extinguish both fires. Residents reported “oil rain” and the concentration of benzene, xylene and soot in the air exceeded the norms many times.
Leaks from damaged storage tanks also led to the release of petroleum products into the Black Sea, a the stain stretched 77 km in a week along the coast.
The refinery, owned by Rosneft and one of the 10 largest in Russia, has reportedly been idle since April 16. Russian media reported that by April 27, 24 storage tanks had been destroyed and another four were damaged.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
