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.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies...
West Africa's Al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on military position...
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, ending the co-host's historic run in the tourna...
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev a...
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported...
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
West Africa's Al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on military positions in Mali on Saturday and said it had seized control of at least three of them.
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, ending the co-host's historic run in the tournament.
Kyrgyzstan’s ex-second in command, Kamchybek Tashiev, has been convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s President Sadyr Japarov. Tashiev and Japarov had ruled the Central Asian nation in tandem since 2020, until the former was unexpectedly ousted in February.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
West Africa's Al Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on military positions in Mali on Saturday and said it had seized control of at least three of them.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment