Ukrainian drone strike ignites tanker, damages Tuapse oil terminal on the Black Sea, says Russia

A Ukrainian drone attack overnight caused a fire and damaged a tanker and infrastructure at the Tuapse oil terminal, one of Russia’s main Black Sea ports, authorities in the Krasnodar region said on Sunday.

The strike on the port, a crucial outlet for Russian crude and refined product exports, came shortly after traders reported that shipments from Tuapse were expected to increase in November. Officials warned the incident could disrupt export flows.

According to the regional administration, debris from unmanned aerial vehicles fell on an oil tanker, damaging its deck structure. “A fire broke out on the vessel. The crew were evacuated,” the statement said on Telegram. The administration added that port buildings and other infrastructure had also been damaged, though it was not immediately clear whether operations at the terminal were continuing.

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Tuapse is home to the Black Sea oil terminal and a refinery operated by Rosneft, which has been targeted multiple times by Ukrainian drones this year. Unofficial Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels shared images appearing to show fires burning at the terminal and a tanker ablaze, but those were not independently verified.

There was no immediate comment from Kyiv, and the full extent of the attack remains unclear. Ukraine has intensified its strikes on Russian oil refineries, fuel depots and pipelines in recent months, describing the campaign as retaliation for Russian assaults on its power grid.

Regional authorities also reported that falling drone fragments damaged an apartment building in the nearby village of Sosnovyi. No injuries were reported, though Tuapse railway station sustained minor damage.