Image: from Mike Eckel X @Mike_Eckel
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
A major oil facility on Russia’s Black Sea coast has been set ablaze once again following a Ukrainian drone strike, marking the third attack on the site in less than two weeks and raising concerns over environmental damage and regional stability.
The latest strike targeted the Tuapse oil terminal complex, located in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region. Local authorities confirmed that the attack triggered a large-scale fire at the refinery, prompting evacuations of nearby residents as emergency crews rushed to contain the flames.
Ukraine drones hit Russian oil export terminal in Tuapse again
Putin should have taken the deal pic.twitter.com/SiLi2twh0L
— Kalu Aja (@FinPlanKaluAja1) April 28, 2026
Regional governor Venyamin Kondratyev described the incident as a significant blaze caused by “enemy drones,” adding that safety measures were immediately put in place for surrounding communities.
The facility, operated by Rosneft, is a critical component of Russia’s energy infrastructure. It has the capacity to process around 240,000 barrels of crude oil per day and plays a key role in exporting fuel products through the Black Sea. The renewed attack comes just days after firefighters had extinguished previous fires at the same site.
The Kremlin confirmed that Vladimir Putin was briefed on the situation and ordered Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov to travel to the area to oversee response efforts.
Ukraine’s military acknowledged responsibility for the strike, with drone forces commander Robert Brovdi referring to the operation as “Tuapse 3.0,” underscoring the repeated targeting of the facility.
Beyond the immediate destruction, environmental concerns are mounting. Previous attacks had already led to oil contamination in the surrounding area, with reports of polluted rain and oil residue washing onto nearby beaches. Residents have described thick smog and falling black droplets, raising fears of a potential ecological crisis.
The escalation is part of a broader intensification of drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow reported intercepting 186 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Kyiv said Russian forces launched more than 120 drones in return strikes across Ukrainian territory.
In the city of Kryvyi Rih, at least one person was killed and several others injured following a Russian attack, according to local authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that in the past week alone, Russia has deployed thousands of drones, guided bombs, and missiles against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russian oil infrastructure appears aimed at disrupting exports and weakening Moscow’s ability to benefit from rising global energy prices, particularly amid ongoing tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.
As both sides escalate their use of drone technology, the conflict continues to expand beyond the battlefield, increasingly affecting critical infrastructure, civilian areas, and the environment.