Oil spill spreads near Russia's Tuapse seaport after drone strike

Transportation infrastructure at the seaport of Tuapse in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai has been damaged following a reported unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attack, according to local authorities.

The regional prosecutor’s office said Tuapse Transport Prosecutor Yevgeny Zavalin visited the site to assess the extent of the damage, Caliber.Az reports. 

Authorities are also carrying out environmental cleanup operations after an oil spill was detected in the area. The Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters said satellite imagery on April 19 identified an oil slick in the sea approximately 1.5 miles from the port.

Officials said the spill resulted from damage to marine terminal infrastructure during a UAV strike on the night of April 16.

“The area of water pollution is estimated at 10,000 square meters,” the operational headquarters said, adding that containment measures, including boom barriers, have been deployed. Six vessels, including high-speed boats and oil skimmers, have been mobilized to assist in the cleanup.

Authorities also said oil contamination has been detected in the Tuapse River following a fire at the marine terminal linked to the same incident. The spill has since been contained, with additional booms, collection devices, and an oil trap installed to limit further spread.

Emergency crews and volunteers continue cleanup operations, including work at damaged residential sites. Some personnel have been redeployed following renewed drone activity overnight, which authorities say affected additional areas.

Russian officials have previously reported multiple casualties in earlier incidents in the region, including among minors, and ongoing fire damage at energy infrastructure, including the Tuapse oil refinery, which reportedly burned for several days after earlier strikes.

On April 20, local authorities also reported a renewed attack on the city, which they said caused a fire at the Tuapse seaport and resulted in one death and one injury.

By Sabina Mammadli