Third Strike in Weeks: Ukraine Hits Russia’s Key Tuapse Refinery Again

A Ukrainian drone strike has triggered a major fire at Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, marking another hit on the strategic energy facility and forcing evacuations in nearby areas, officials said Tuesday.

The attack caused a significant blaze at the refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, with emergency services deployed to contain the fire as thick smoke engulfed parts of the industrial site. Local authorities confirmed that residents in surrounding areas were advised to evacuate or stay indoors due to safety concerns.

Ukraine’s military confirmed responsibility for the strike, describing it as part of an ongoing campaign targeting Russia’s oil infrastructure to disrupt revenues used to fund the war. This latest incident is the third reported attack on the Tuapse facility within less than two weeks.

Russian regional officials said the fire may have been caused by drone debris, while emergency crews worked through the day to bring the blaze under control. Authorities also reported that evacuation measures were activated in parts of the city as a precaution.

The Tuapse refinery, a key export-oriented facility on Russia’s Black Sea coast, has been repeatedly targeted since mid-April, with previous strikes damaging storage tanks and forcing temporary shutdowns of operations.

The latest escalation comes amid intensified Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says is aimed at weakening Moscow’s wartime economy.