Black smoke has been constantly rising over the Russian Black Sea port city of Tuapse after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes hit a major oil refinery and export terminal, setting off fires that have burned intermittently for days and spreading oil contamination across land, rivers, coastal waters and even rain water.

The first strike on April 16 ignited major fires at the Tuapse refinery, damaging storage tanks and forcing a shutdown of operations. Emergency crews later worked along a nearby river as petroleum residue spread beyond the industrial site. The Washington Post reported that the refinery has been struck four times in two weeks, with repeated fires reigniting after successive drone attacks, creating what environmental groups describe as a prolonged ecological crisis.

Further strikes on April 20, April 28 and early May exacerbated the damage and extended the spread of pollution. Thick smoke repeatedly blanketed parts of the city, while oil leaked into the Tuapse River and flowed toward the Black Sea. Cleanup operations involved floating barriers and large-scale shoreline work. Satellite imagery, as reported by CNN, showed smoke plumes stretching over the coastal region, with oil slicks spreading at least tens of kilometers offshore during the incident.

Residents described unusual rainfall carrying dark, oily particles across Tuapse, coating cars, windows, and streets. One resident told CNN: “Oil is literally falling from the sky. We can’t breathe. The entire city reeks of fuel oil.” Another said: “The city is choking on smoke.”

Russian authorities later confirmed that air monitoring detected elevated levels of toxic substances, including benzene, xylene and soot. Emergency advisories urged residents to remain indoors and limit exposure while fires continued. According to The New York Times, officials in southern Russia acknowledged dangerous air conditions after days of public reports, recommending that residents stay inside due to toxic air readings.

Local residents have also described a strong and persistent fuel smell across the town. “You can smell it anywhere in the town,” one resident told NBC News, adding that the odor became stronger closer to the refinery and that some families had evacuated children due to pollution concerns.

Public frustration has grown over the response and communication from authorities. One resident wrote in comments reported by NBC News that schools were closed while smoke remained visible across the city, and questioned the lack of earlier action to protect residents from exposure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly addressed the attacks for the first time last week, with CGTN reporting that he cited regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev as saying there were no major threats in the aftermath. He added: “It seems there are no serious dangers, and people are managing to deal with the challenges they face on the ground.

However, reports say environmental contamination has extended beyond air pollution. Oil reached the Tuapse River and spread into the Black Sea, affecting beaches and coastal ecosystems. Cleanup crews and volunteers have been working to remove oil from sand and water, often manually. Al Jazeera reported that residents and volunteers described “black rain” and widespread soot covering railcars, animals, and infrastructure following repeated strikes on the refinery.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has expanded long-range drone operations against Russian energy infrastructure, targeting refineries, storage sites, and export terminals linked to Russia’s oil economy. The Kyiv Independent reported that the Tuapse facility was repeatedly struck as part of a broader campaign aimed at reducing Russia’s ability to process and export petroleum used to finance its war operations.