Fourth Ukrainian Drone Strike On Tuapse Oil Refinery Sparks Massive Fire And City Blackout

A marine terminal in Tuapse was targeted by a forth Ukrainian drone strike during the early hours of May 1, sparking a major fire at the local oil refinery.

According to the Krasnodar Krai operational headquarters, the emergency response involved 128 personnel and 41 units of equipment to contain the blaze. No casualties have been reported by local authorities.

Reports from RTVI indicate that at least two storage tanks at the Tuapse Oil Refinery were ignited during the attack, with visual evidence showing heavy black smoke rising from the site. The strike resulted in the terminal being de-energized, triggering a significant power outage throughout the city.

Local reports further describe a complete blackout in the city center and a total disruption of internet services.

Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, earlier confirmed the renewed strikes on the refinery.

“Tuapse in the style of Chornobaivka, 4.0. Remake four: every week, my friends and I go to Tuapse. Naftovykov Street, filling station number 24… (from the series With a light arrival!). And here comes the warm stuff, A5,” Brovdi stated.

Following a fourth strike on the facility, production capacities at the Tuapse oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai have diminished, Olga Melyoshina, a spokesperson for the Unmanned Systems Forces stated during the national telethon, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.

According to Melyoshina, the refinery previously maintained a capacity of 12 million tons of oil per year.

“But the fourth visit, it seems to me, has slightly reduced this capacity, and we will do everything to ensure that the enemy's corresponding capacity only continues to decrease,” she noted.

She emphasized that the Unmanned Systems Forces target only objects connected to the military, identifying oil refining as a primary source of funding for the opposing army.

The spokesperson further highlighted that these operations exert both economic and psychological pressure by undermining the perceived security of Russia's deep rear.

“If previously a distance of 1,500 or 2,000 kilometers from the state border was a safe rear for Russia, today the situation is changing,” Melyoshina said.

Preliminary analytical estimates suggest that Russian oil refining capacities may have dropped by 20–30% as of late April.

During the previous strike on Tuapse on April 28, a significant fire erupted at an oil refinery in Tuapse, located in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

Regional authorities acknowledged the incident, stating that the fire was caused by "falling debris" from unmanned aerial vehicles. The emergency response was substantial, with over 120 personnel and 39 units of specialized equipment mobilized to bring the flames under control.

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