A new Ukrainian drone strike has hit Russia’s Black Sea port of Tuapse the fourth attack in a week sparking a fire at the sea terminal and deepening concerns over the region’s growing instability. Local officials said early Friday that no injuries were reported, but the repeated strikes have severely disrupted daily life in the coastal city.
Tuapse, home to a major oil terminal, has become a frequent target. Authorities have warned residents not to drink tap water, closed schools and urged people to stay indoors as emergency crews battle the fallout from the escalating attacks.
Regional officials said the latest strike triggered a blaze at the port terminal, prompting a massive emergency response involving 128 firefighters and 41 vehicles. The area has been under a state of emergency since Tuesday, when a previous attack ignited a huge refinery fire, halted production and sent oil slicks drifting along the coastline.
Although that fire was extinguished by Thursday morning, the environmental damage remains visible. Oil‑stained beaches, polluted air and contaminated waterways have left residents anxious and frustrated. Cleanup teams were deployed again on Thursday to clear five newly affected coastal areas, bringing the total amount of collected contaminated material to 12,600 cubic meters.
Health authorities have urged residents to rely on bottled water and avoid natural springs, while the consumer watchdog Rospotrebnadzor advised people to keep windows shut due to elevated benzene levels. May holiday celebrations have been canceled, adding to public unease.
Online, some residents questioned official assurances that the situation is under control. “How about she comes to visit us and tries our fresh air,” one person wrote in response to a video of Rospotrebnadzor’s chief claiming there were no health risks.
The Tuapse strike came as Ukrainian drones also targeted oil facilities near Perm and in Russia’s Orenburg region attacks occurring roughly 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine. Kyiv has intensified its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, aiming to weaken Moscow’s war financing as global oil prices rise amid broader geopolitical tensions.
Ukrainian officials say Russia has long targeted their own energy grid, causing widespread outages and civilian suffering during winter months.
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