Residents of Tuapse are alarmed by attacks and environmental threats

Amid air pollution and a new "oil rain" in Tuapse, local residents are rarely going outside and prohibiting children from playing in their yards. Residents fear further attacks and consider the burning oil terminal a source of environmental threat.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," a fire broke out at the oil terminal in Tuapse following a drone attack on the night of April 20. On the evening of April 20, local residents reported that "oil rain had fallen in the city. Environmentalists warned that the "oil rain" and smoke from the fire at the oil depot pose a health hazard, while Tuapse residents called the situation in the city an environmental disaster.

During the day of April 22, "oil rain" fell again in Tuapse - the sediment was contaminated by combustion products from the ongoing fire at the marine oil terminal. According to residents, a thick column of black smoke lingered over the port area, blown by the wind toward Primorsky Beach, and the streets were virtually empty—on government advice, residents are trying to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary.

On Primorsky Beach, where the Tuapse Mountain River carries pollution from the terminal, volunteers discovered birds covered in fuel oil. Some were found in critical condition, while others were already dead, volunteer Anna S. told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

According to Anna, at least five birds completely covered in oil products were found on the beach. The volunteer confirmed that with their feathers matted together, these birds are unable to move and often don't even respond to human approach. "We catch them, clean them a bit, and send them to Anapa, where there are bird rescue centers. We don't have that kind of capacity," the volunteer explained.

Two Attacks on the Marine Terminal

The marine oil terminal is located about a kilometer from the shore, stretching along the Tuapse industrial zone and essentially operating as a storage tank farm with an oil product pumping system. Driver Sergey K recalled that drones attacked the terminal twice within a week: the first time on April 16, and the second on April 20.

“The fire started on April 16th, and it wasn't contained until the night of April 19th-20th. Then another fire broke out, and more storage tanks caught fire, and they're still putting it out. Smoke has been lingering for two days now, and flames are rising 30 meters. It's good that there's no wind blowing toward the residential areas. All the oil products are being carried seaward to Primorsky Beach, where the birds were injured,” he told the Caucasian Knot.

The residential part of the city is separated from the industrial part by the Tuapse River, which flows into the sea. According to residents, it was through the river that the oil products entered the water. Water pollution is localized, but alarming, noted blogger and Tuapse resident Igor P.

“Something leaked into the river, and it flows straight into the sea. It’s not a disaster, like it sometimes happens, but there are stains. There’s a black line on the shore, especially at the water’s edge. Waves are washing oil products ashore, so the beach is polluted. The pebbles on the beach are covered in fuel oil,” he said.

“They dream of the oil terminal being closed forever.”

The smell of burning can be felt within a radius of about one kilometer from the epicenter, the blogger noted: “It’s hard to breathe there, but it’s almost undetectable from a kilometer away.”

After the rain, black oily stains remained on windows, buildings, and cars, a housewife confirmed. Marina L. "The car is covered in soot, the windows are black, and so is the yard," she reported.

Her child, while out for a walk, got oil on his hands, and it took a long time to wash off his skin. After that, both Marina and her neighbors forbade their children from playing outside. "There were no burns, but the smell was strong, and their skin was sticky. Now we don't let the children outside at all," the woman added.

Driver Alexey G noted that the car was difficult to clean after the "oil rain." "There's a black film on the hood and roof that's hard to wash off. It's definitely not just dust," he emphasized.

The windows of apartments in multi-story buildings damaged during the attacks have only been covered with film so far, and the extent of assistance to the victims is still unclear, noted Igor P. He recalled that several dozen people lost their homes.

“No one from the authorities is saying what kind of real housing assistance there will be, and no one knows what the laws are. Tuapse has never been hit by such a massive attack. People weren't evacuated en masse, but those whose homes burned down were given accommodation in hotels,” the blogger noted.

Tuapse residents note that the city has never experienced such attacks before. “People are afraid; this isn't something you can get used to. You never know where you'll end up next,” stated Sergey K.

A significant portion of Tuapse's population lives off the resort business and dreams of the oil terminal being closed forever, added Igor P. “People have hotels and rental housing. And now what? Attacks, oil in the sea, the environment is ruined. Who's going to come here for vacation?” he wonders.