A Ukrainian drone attack injured two people and triggered a fire at Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery on Wednesday, officials said. The blaze was quickly extinguished, but equipment, one port berth, and five homes sustained damage. Windows broke in four apartment blocks and a private house, the Krasnodar operational headquarters reported.
Tuapse, located on Russia’s Black Sea coast about 350 km from Ukraine’s mainland, hosts one of Russia’s key oil export refineries. Operated by Rosneft, the refinery processes roughly 240,000 barrels of crude oil per day and supplies products including naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil.
Read more: Russia shoots down 130 Ukrainian drones, Moscow flights hit
The fire affected approximately 300 square metres (3,229 square feet), but authorities did not clarify the extent of damage to refinery operations or whether production was halted. The port and refinery have been targeted repeatedly by Ukrainian drone strikes since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine nearly four years ago.
Ukrainian media shared photos showing large fires at night, with communication masts silhouetted. Russia’s Telegram news channel SHOT reported a series of explosions late Tuesday in Tuapse. No official comment came from Ukraine, and the damage could not be independently verified.
Read more: Ukrainian drone strike kills two in Russia’s Saratov
The repeated attacks on strategic Black Sea oil facilities highlight the ongoing vulnerabilities in Russia’s energy infrastructure amid the conflict. Analysts say such strikes may temporarily disrupt operations and pose economic and logistical challenges.