Ukraine Another fire at Russian oil facilities after drone attack - one dead
At least one person has been killed in another Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse in the Krasnodar region. One person was also injured, wrote Governor Weniamin Kondratjew on the Telegram platform. There was a fire in the port and drone debris had damaged buildings in the city, including a school and a kindergarten. A gas pipeline was also damaged.
20.04.2026, 09:52
SDA
Residents reported explosions, two burning refinery tanks and high flames in the port area on social media. Initially unverifiable videos showed fires and a large black cloud of smoke. The public prosecutor's office reported damage to the port's infrastructure. The city authorities announced that schools remained closed.
Russia loses income from oil exports
The port was already the target of a Ukrainian attack last week. Ukraine has been defending itself against a large-scale Russian invasion for more than four years with Western help. As part of its defensive campaign, it is increasingly attacking Russia's oil industry, which is important for Moscow's financing of the war. The number of victims and the extent of the damage are disproportionate to the devastating consequences of Russian attacks in Ukraine.
Tuapse on the Black Sea is one of the most important ports for Russian oil exports. There is also a refinery there that belongs to the largest Russian oil company Rosneft. Tuapse is located around 75 kilometers northwest of the city of Sochi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced on Sunday that Kiev's attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure had led to a loss of at least 2.3 billion dollars in revenue from sales. The Kyiv Independent reported that drone attacks and the seizure of tankers from the so-called Russian shadow fleet had paralyzed around 40 percent of Russia's oil export capacity in April.
