In the city of Tuapse, a powerful fire broke out after a large-scale drone attack on the local oil refinery, engulfing several large fuel tanks. As a result of the incident, over 30 streets and the Shepsinsky rural district were left without water supply due to damage to the power supply of the pumping station. Local authorities organized water delivery and temporary restoration of supply so that residents could make necessary reserves.
This is reported by Finway
Oil Spill and Consequences of the Attack for the City
The ASTRA publication reports that after the explosions, oil products flowed down Koshkina Street and reached house number 30, likely due to damage to dome tanks containing heavy fractions. The Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the fact of the fuel spill, which affected local residents’ vehicles. According to local authorities, the situation remains complicated but manageable.
“Currently, 164 people are extinguishing it, with 46 units of equipment involved… The situation is challenging but under control.”
Due to the fire, evacuation was announced for residents of the streets adjacent to the refinery. Black smoke from the fire is visible even from the resort of Krasnaya Polyana, and according to satellite data, it has reached Goryachy Klyuch, Apsheronsk, and continues moving towards Maykop. At least four of the largest tanks of the plant have been affected, as well as the gas turbine unit, causing power supply disruptions. Explosions can be heard over the city, the sky is covered with smoke, and local authorities recommend that residents stay indoors and keep their windows closed.
Due to significant air pollution, Rospotrebnadzor urges people to avoid contact with contaminated air and to seek medical attention if their health worsens. The governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratiev, confirmed that the cause of the fire was a drone attack, emphasizing that the city is facing “another serious emergency.”
Residents’ Reaction and Consequences for the Region
Local media report that a previous incident at the marine terminal lasted over a week and was only fully eliminated four days ago. This is already the third large-scale attack on Tuapse in the last two weeks. Residents of the city are sharing stories on social media about loud explosions, the sounds of drones, and the severe stress caused by inadequate public warning and the lack of properly equipped shelters. Many were forced to take refuge in basements, which in high-rise buildings are often not suitable for prolonged stays.
Locals are also outraged that drone debris has hit the refinery for the third consecutive time, and the internet shutdown has not yielded the desired results. People note that the “terminology” of official reports often conceals the real scale of the problem. Comments are circulating on social media stating that “the night was lively” and that “the whole city was on fire.” Meanwhile, the authorities claim that the situation is under control, although the scale of pollution and danger remains significant.
Due to constant air raid alerts, VK Fest in Sochi was canceled for the first time this year, and the local airport has been closed 37 times since the beginning of the year, indicating a serious threat to transportation infrastructure.
The official position of the Kremlin is that strikes on oil storage facilities in Tuapse could lead to “destabilization of global energy markets,” which are already under pressure due to events in the Strait of Hormuz.