A fire at an oil terminal in Tuapse, Russia, which was initiated by Ukrainian drones on April 16, continues to blaze days later. Photographs shared by local journalist Andriy Kovalenko depict thick plumes of smoke rising from the facility, indicating that the flames have not been extinguished.
The initial attack targeted the port and oil storage facility during the night of April 16, resulting in at least two oil tanks catching fire. Despite efforts by Russian authorities to manage the situation, the fire persists.
On April 20, Ukrainian defense forces reportedly launched another strike on the Tuapse oil terminal, hitting the tank farm and causing further fire on site. Prior to this, air defense systems in the Krasnodar region had registered explosions and fires in Tuapse, confirming the drone strikes that affected the port and oil storage.
The local government acknowledged the drone attack, with debris landing in the vicinity of the maritime port facilities. This is not the first instance of strikes on the Tuapse oil terminal; previous attacks occurred on December 31, 2025, damaging primary oil processing units, and in November 2025, when drones targeted the port’s oil infrastructure, leading to a prolonged threat from unmanned aerial vehicles.
The ongoing fire at the Tuapse oil terminal, ignited by Ukrainian drone strikes, highlights the continued conflict affecting critical infrastructure in the region. Despite efforts to control the blaze, it remains active days after the initial attack, with further strikes reported shortly thereafter.