Ukraine drone strike triggers major fire at Russia’s Tuapse Black Sea port

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.

State of emergency and environmental impact

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.

Strikes reach deep into Russia

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.

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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.

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