April 28, 2026
Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refinery send smoke across Black Sea coast as state of emergency is declared
In the early hours of April 28, Ukrainian forces struck the oil infrastructure in Tuapse for the third time in two weeks. The first fire at the oil terminal burned for four days before it was extinguished. The second took five days to put out; local authorities said one person was killed and another was injured. The third wave of strikes hit a section of the Tuapse oil refinery that had not previously been targeted, as well as the marine terminal. Correspondents from the independent journalists’ cooperative Bereg traveled to Tuapse; they report on what this environmental disaster looks like up close. Meduza is publishing the piece in full.
TL;DR
- Ukrainian forces conducted a third strike on Tuapse oil infrastructure on April 28, following two previous attacks that resulted in prolonged fires and casualties.
- Smoke from the refinery fires spread at least 140 kilometers, leading to evacuations in nearby areas.
- Residents documented the fires and smoke plumes with their phones, while some officials remained silent on the scale of the environmental disaster.
- The smell of burning and soot were noticeable, affecting air quality and leaving marks on surfaces, though some residents appeared accustomed to the situation.
- Concerns were raised about the impact on the upcoming tourist season and potential harm to marine life, including reports of dead dolphins.
- There were challenges in obtaining protective masks, and a journalist was detained for photographing the fire, with authorities reportedly searching for those posting footage online.
- A state of emergency was declared in the Tuapse municipal district on the evening of April 28, as boiling oil spilled onto a street.
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