Fourth Strike in Two Weeks: Tuapse Oil Terminal Hit Again, Fires Reignite

A new drone strike hit Russia’s Tuapse oil terminal, igniting tanks and causing outages. It marks the fourth attack in two weeks as fires and environmental risks persist. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (Photo by Telegram channel Exilenova+) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine reportedly carried out another drone strike on the Tuapse marine terminal early on Friday morning, May 1, marking the fourth attack on the site in two weeks. According to the Russian Krasnodar Krai task force , the strike triggered a fire. A total of 128 personnel and 41 pieces of equipment are involved in firefighting efforts. No casualties have been reported. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Russian outlet RTVI reported that at least two storage tanks at the Tuapse oil refinery caught fire. Photos and videos circulating on social media show thick black smoke rising over the area. The outlet also reported that the terminal lost power, while Russian milbloggers claimed a broader blackout and internet outage in the city center. The Ukrainian side has not officially commented on the strike. The latest attack follows a previous strike on April 28 , after which fires broke out in Tuapse, prompting evacuations amid fears of an environmental disaster. Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said a “large-scale fire” erupted at the refinery, adding that 164 personnel and 46 pieces of equipment were deployed to tackle the blaze, while nearby residents were evacuated and a temporary shelter was set up at a local school. Ukrainian monitoring channel CyberBoroshno reported that at least four storage tanks were on fire, warning the flames could spread to adjacent facilities. Later, Exilenova+ said additional explosions were recorded, with the fire expanding significantly. Other Topics of Interest Chechen PACE Adviser Suspended After Controversial Remarks The move came after remarks in an interview sparked criticism over views on LGBTQ+ people and violence in Chechnya. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the strike, saying Ukrainian Defense Forces targeted the Tuapse oil refinery as part of efforts to reduce Russia’s “military-economic potential.” Subsequent reports indicated that burning petroleum products spilled from damaged tanks onto nearby roads, damaging several vehicles. Russian outlet Astra said fuel likely leaked from large storage tanks, with eyewitness footage showing contamination spreading along a city street. Residents reported thick smoke visible from as far as the Krasnaya Polyana mountain resort, about 105 km (65 miles) away. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov to fly to Tuapse immediately, while regional authorities declared a state of emergency in the Tuapse Municipal District. On April 30, Kondratyev said Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev had visited the region, adding that the refinery fire had been put out. Kondratyev said specialists had begun installing drainage systems and protective barriers around storage tanks to prevent further oil spills into nearby rivers and the Black Sea. Emergency recovery work is ongoing. The facility was also targeted on April 16 and April 20, with both fires taking around four days to extinguish. Residents reported “oil rain,” with benzene, xylene, and soot levels in the air exceeding normal concentrations multiple times. Leaks from damaged storage tanks also led to petroleum products spilling into the Black Sea, with the slick stretching up to 77 kilometers along the coast within a week. The refinery, owned by Rosneft and among Russia’s ten largest, has reportedly been out of operation since April 16. Russian media reported that by April 27, 24 storage tanks had been destroyed and four more damaged. Julia is a Deputy Head of News and correspondent for Kyiv Post who has previously worked as a parliamentary editor, journalist, and news editor. She has specialized in covering the work of the Ukrainian parliament, government, and law enforcement agencies.