A Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea port of Tuapse killed at least one person and ignited multiple fires at a major export terminal on Monday, the second strike to damage the strategic energy hub in less than a week.
The overnight assault appeared to target the Rosneft-owned Tuapse refinery, where fires had only just been extinguished from a previous Ukrainian drone strike on Thursday.
Telegram news channels published what were said to be eyewitness videos of oil storage tanks set ablaze in the attack. Local authorities said a gas pipeline, a church and two schools were also damaged.
“Fire crews and rescue services are currently engaged at every site,” Tuapse Mayor Sergei Boyko said, noting that the strikes hit several locations across the port’s export terminal.
Krasnodar region Governor Venyamin Kondratyev said one man was killed and another was injured in the attack.
The Rosneft-owned Tuapse refinery, which processes 12 million metric tons of oil annually, is a vital export artery for Russian naphtha, fuel oil and diesel.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 112 Ukrainian drones overnight, including in the skies above the Black Sea and annexed Crimea.
The attack comes as Ukraine escalates its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure in a bid to deprive the Kremlin of windfalls from soaring oil prices.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday criticized the Trump administration’s decision to renew a temporary sanctions waiver on Russian oil, a move intended to stabilize markets roiled by the war in the Middle East.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our
.