Residents Evacuated at Massive Tuapse Fire in Russia After Ukrainian Drone Strike

Drone strikes hit Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery, sparking massive fires and evacuations. Ukraine confirms the strike as airports impose temporary flight restrictions. 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 Large-scale fires broke out in Tuapse, Russia, following a new drone attack on an oil refinery and a marine terminal, prompting local authorities to announce evacuations amid fears of environmental disaster. The attack prompted temporary restrictions on aircraft movements, introduced at airports in Krasnodar, Gelendzhik, and Sochi. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The governor of Russia’s Krasnodar Territory, Veniamin Kondratyev, wrote on Telegram : “Another serious emergency in Tuapse. Due to an attack by enemy drones, a large-scale fire broke out at the refinery.” According to him, 164 personnel and 46 units of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire. “For the safety of residents living near the refinery, evacuations are underway. A temporary accommodation center has been set up at local School No. 6. I urge residents to follow all recommendations,” the statement said. The Ukrainian monitoring Telegram channel CyberBoroshno reported that at least four tanks were burning at the refinery following the strike. “If in previous attacks the tank farm was hit, this time the refinery itself was directly targeted… There is a possibility that the fire could spread to neighboring tanks,” the report said. Later, the Ukrainian monitoring Telegram channel Exilenova+ clarified that as of 11 a.m. Kyiv time, one tank had likely been extinguished. A subsequent update from Exilenova+ included video footage confirming that the refinery continues to burn. Other Topics of Interest Tuapse Ablaze Again: Ukrainian Drones Hit Key Russian Oil Hub as Environmental Crisis Spreads The strike marks the third hit on the Tuapse refinery in less than two weeks – after attacks on April 16 and April 20 that triggered major fires, damaged storage tanks, and forced the plant offline. Featured Borscht Diplomacy: Chef Yevhen Klopotenko on Promoting Ukraine $109 Million Hit: How Ukrainian Sea Drones Hunt Russia’s Oil ‘Blood Money’ Russia Can’t Win in Ukraine, But Does Putin Realize it? At the same time, partisans from the Atesh movement reacted to the strike, writing on Telegram: “In Tuapse, it’s burning so well for a reason. Preparations were being made for the strikes. We’ll show you soon.” Ukraine’s General Staff has confirmed damage to the Tuapse oil refinery. “As part of efforts to reduce the military-economic potential of the Russian aggressor, early on April 28, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a second strike on the Tuapse oil refinery in Krasnodar Territory,” the statement on Telegram said. According to the military, strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) hit the facility, triggering a fire. The extent of the damage is still being assessed. “The Defense Forces of Ukraine will continue to systematically take measures aimed at stopping Russia’s armed aggression,” the statement added. Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s key Black Sea oil hub in Tuapse overnight into Tuesday, igniting another fire at a strategic refinery already hit repeatedly in recent days. Regional authorities claimed falling drone debris caused the blaze at the Rosneft-owned facility. No casualties were reported. Residents reported multiple explosions after 2 a.m., followed by flames and thick smoke rising over the port city. The strike marks the third hit on the Tuapse refinery in less than two weeks, following attacks on April 16 and April 20 that triggered major fires, damaged storage tanks, and forced the plant offline. The refinery – one of Russia’s top 10 and the only major facility on its Black Sea coast – is closely linked to a port terminal used for fuel exports. Damage to storage infrastructure has halted shipments and operations. Locals accused authorities of downplaying the scale of the attacks. “Still, they call it explosions and debris. Why do they even write it like this? People can see everything,” one user wrote in the “My Tuapse” Telegram group. “Admitting the strikes were effective would mean admitting the city and its defenses failed. That’s why it’s always ‘debris’ that gets blamed,” another responded. The fallout is spreading beyond the facility. An oil spill from earlier strikes has stretched up to 77 kilometers (48 miles) along the Black Sea coast within days. Authorities say more than 4,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil and oily water have been collected, but pollution continues to spread. Smoke from the fires has blanketed southern Russia, including Sochi and Anapa, and drifted inland. In some areas, residents reported “oil rain,” while official monitors recorded benzene, xylene, and soot levels up to twice safe limits. Environmental damage is mounting, with dead dolphins washing ashore near Sochi and reports of fish and bird deaths. The Tuapse refinery, capable of processing around 12 million metric tons of oil annually, remains offline with no clear timeline for reopening. Despite the scale of the damage and environmental impact, the Kremlin has not publicly commented. 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.