A fresh Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s vital Black Sea port of Tuapse has sparked a massive fire at the sea terminal, local officials confirmed early on Friday.
The strike caused no immediate casualties, but Tuapse has faced repeated aerial attacks, with its oil terminal a key target. The disruption has affected daily life, prompting health warnings, school closures and restrictions on water use.
"In Tuapse, as a result of a drone attack by the Kyiv regime, a fire broke out on the territory of the seaport terminal," the General Headquarters in the Krasnodar Region said in a statement on Telegram. It added that 128 firefighters and 41 emergency vehicles were deployed to contain the blaze and prevent it spreading to nearby storage facilities.
The Tuapse area has been under a state of emergency since Tuesday, after an earlier drone strike caused a major fire at the city’s main oil refinery.
That attack halted production and led to an environmental spill, releasing unrefined oil into the Black Sea. Although the fire was extinguished on Thursday morning, according to the regional governor, the damage remains visible.
Polluted beaches, poor air quality and contaminated waterways highlight the environmental impact of the attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Emergency workers cleared five oil-contaminated coastal areas on Thursday. Officials said 12,600 cubic metres of polluted material had already been removed.
Health risks remain a concern. Russia’s consumer safety watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, urged residents to limit time outdoors and keep windows closed due to high benzene levels following the refinery fire.
Local authorities also advised residents to use bottled water and avoid tap or spring water due to possible contamination. All May holiday public events in the city have been cancelled.
The measures have prompted criticism online, with some residents questioning official reassurances. "How about she comes to visit us and tries our fresh air?" one resident wrote on Wednesday, responding to comments by Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova that there were no long-term health risks. "Everything is safe and under control!" another person wrote following the cancellation of outdoor events.
The attack on Tuapse is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
On Thursday, drones struck an oil refinery near Perm for the second consecutive time. Ukraine’s military intelligence also said it had hit a refinery in the southern Orenburg region.
Both locations are around 1,500 kilometres (900 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory, underscoring the extended range of Kyiv’s drone capabilities.
Ukraine has intensified strikes inside Russia in recent weeks, aiming to disrupt oil production, storage and exports - key sources of revenue for Moscow’s war effort.
Rising global oil prices, partly driven by tensions involving Iran, have increased the financial impact of such attacks.
Kyiv says the strikes are a response to sustained Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which have caused civilian casualties and widespread power outages during winter. The attacks on Tuapse suggest Ukraine can now project similar pressure inside Russia.
Mexico began its home World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in a heated opening match at the Estadio Azteca, setting the tone for th...
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to expand, with confirmed cases now exceeding 676, including 136 deaths, according to...
A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over charges linked to a military drone operation involving No...
Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati has died at the age of 47 after suffering prolonged health complications that left her in a c...
Iran has strongly condemned the renewed U.S. attacks on Thursday as a violation of the UN Charter, saying Washington has rendered its ceasefire deal s...
Mexico began its home World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in a heated opening match at the Estadio Azteca, setting the tone for the tournament in front of a vocal home crowd.
A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over charges linked to a military drone operation involving North Korea.
Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati has died at the age of 47 after suffering prolonged health complications that left her in a coma for nearly four years.
Iran has strongly condemned the renewed U.S. attacks on Thursday as a violation of the UN Charter, saying Washington has rendered its ceasefire deal struck in April with Tehran meaningless.
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
Mexico began its home World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in a heated opening match at the Estadio Azteca, setting the tone for the tournament in front of a vocal home crowd.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to expand, with confirmed cases now exceeding 676, including 136 deaths, according to the latest figures released by health authorities.
Thailand’s Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati has died at the age of 47 after suffering prolonged health complications that left her in a coma for nearly four years.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 12 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A South Korean court has sentenced former president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over charges linked to a military drone operation involving North Korea.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment