Tuapse, a Russian port city on the Black Sea, is grappling with severe fires at its oil storage facilities after drone strikes attributed to Ukraine. The attacks occurred on April 16 and 20, with the blaze from the latter continuing to burn.
Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and conduct frequent wet cleaning to mitigate the effects of smoke and pollutants. Masks and respirators are recommended for those who must venture outside. Local volunteers are also urging the community to care for stray animals, many of which are showing signs of poisoning, such as difficulty breathing and red eyes, with their fur covered in oil.
Videos circulating on social media depict what residents are calling “oil rains,” leaving a black residue on the ground. Many locals have expressed skepticism about official statements claiming that harmful substance levels remain within acceptable limits, as reported by the media outlet “Mozhem Ob’yasnit.”
Environmental experts are warning of a significant ecological disaster. Ecologist Yevgeny Vitishko stated, “Unburned petroleum products are now spilling into parts of our district and will affect the Greater Caucasus Mountain range. The consequences for the city, the Tuapse district, and the region will last for years.”
In a seemingly contradictory move, the local prosecutor’s office organized a tree-planting event on April 22. Photos from the event show smoke from the ongoing fires in the background. Although the post was later removed, it had already circulated widely on social media.
On April 20, Ukraine’s General Staff and other security agencies confirmed that Ukrainian drones had struck the Tuapse oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai again, igniting fuel storage tanks. Satellite images later revealed that smoke from the fires extended for dozens, even hundreds of kilometers, reaching as far as Stavropol, approximately 300 kilometers from Tuapse.
Tuapse is facing a major environmental crisis following drone strikes that ignited fires at oil storage facilities. Local residents are urged to take precautions against smoke exposure, while concerns about the ecological impact continue to grow.