A fire at an oil terminal in Tuapse (Krasnodar Krai, RF), accompanied by an oil spill, has caused pollution of the air, soil, and coastal zone. As a result of the combustion of petroleum products, toxic compounds were released into the atmosphere, some of which settle with precipitation and accumulate in the environment.
Ecologist Vladyslav Balinskyi explained to UNN what consequences this will have for ecosystems and public health, and what factors determine the scale of the impact.
What happened in Tuapse
An oil refinery is located in the Russian city of Tuapse. It processes oil, which is the basis for fuel, the majority of which is used for the needs of the Russian occupiers' military equipment. It is also used to refuel drones that strike civilians in cities and towns around the clock. In addition, the plant's products are exported to other countries. Moscow also "invests" the proceeds into the war against Ukraine.
Since mid-April 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have been trying to use long-range drones to stop or at least slow down the fuel production process at the enterprise.
After one such operation, a fire broke out at the refinery. It lasted for four days. Information began to leak into Russian social networks and some media: so-called "oil rains" fell in the city, and the air was filled with soot. In addition, the permissible concentration of benzene and xylene exceeded the norm by 2–3 times. Moreover, the day after the open fire was extinguished, petroleum products entered the sea area from the river due to torrential rains.
Russian authorities do not inform local residents about the real state of affairs. The evacuation of residents was announced only on April 28. Until then, children went to school, and city residents spent time outdoors. People were only advised not to open windows for ventilation.
Instead, Russian propaganda actively used information about the fire at the Tuapse refinery to accuse Ukraine of ecocide.
"Oil rains" in Tuapse: why they turned out to be another myth
Explaining the situation currently unfolding in Tuapse, ecologist Vladyslav Balinskyi says that the ecosystem will undoubtedly feel the consequences of the massive fire at the refinery. However, speaking of "oil rains" - a phenomenon so actively reported by Russian "media" - is not entirely correct.
The phrasing "oil rains" common in the media does not correspond to reality. We are talking about atmospheric precipitation saturated with oil combustion products. These are simply rains that have a high content of combustion products. They are black in color due to a high concentration of soot, which accounts for over 90%
At the same time, Balinskyi does not dismiss the fact that such a phenomenon will affect the region's nature. After all, during the burning of oil, especially with a high sulfur content, dangerous chemical compounds are released into the air. Among them are acroleins, dioxins, cyanides, hydrogen sulfide, and other toxic substances.
Hydrogen sulfide belongs to nerve-paralytic poisons. It affects the central nervous system. Acroleins affect the mucous membranes, and with prolonged inhalation, can lead to lung damage
A separate threat is posed by ultra-fine soot particles, which carry heavy metals and other toxins on their surface. They are capable of penetrating the body through the respiratory tract, skin, and mucous membranes and entering the bloodstream.
Fire, "oil rains," and risks to public health
The greatest impact of air pollution is felt by people in close proximity to the accident site. According to the expert's estimates, the risk zone depends on the wind direction and can cover territories within a radius of several kilometers.
First and foremost, people located at a distance of 5-10 kilometers from the source suffer. These are vulnerable groups of the population—children, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases
He also stressed that during such incidents, it is advisable to start evacuating the population immediately, as the concentration of toxic substances can pose a serious threat to health.
In addition to the immediate impact, there is a risk of toxins accumulating in the body. Some substances can act over a long period of time.
Some of these compounds have an instant effect, others are capable of accumulating and affecting for years or even decades
However, the Russian authorities again focused on ensuring that information about the fire at the refinery and its consequences did not leak into the information space, and did not care about the safety of their own citizens.
How the fire in Tuapse will affect the soils and ecosystems of the region
Pollution from atmospheric precipitation and combustion products can lead to soil degradation. Dioxins, organochlorine compounds, and heavy metal salts will accumulate in them.
Acid rain causes soil degradation. In addition, there is an accumulation of toxic substances that can persist for a very long time
This will create risks for agriculture, although, as the UNN interlocutor emphasizes, the real scale of the impact still requires additional monitoring.
The state of the sea area after the fire at the Tuapse refinery
As ecologist Vladyslav Balinskyi explains, part of the petroleum products and auxiliary substances used during firefighting have already entered the water. This includes, in particular, foaming agents, which, together with the oil, contaminated the coastal zone.
A large amount of foaming agents was used during the extinguishing. They entered the sea along with the oil and contaminated the coast
The spread of pollution in the sea depends on currents and weather conditions. Primarily, coastal areas located in the direction of water mass movement will suffer.
At the same time, Balinskyi notes that currently, the scale of the sea area pollution is not critical compared to other known accidents that have already occurred in the RF.
I do not see mega-critical pollution of the water area. If compared with tanker accidents, these are significantly smaller volumes
As an example, the expert cited the accident of the "Volgoneft" tankers. In March 2025, the fuel carrier vessels "Volgoneft-212" and "Volgoneft-239" were caught in a storm and sank in the Kerch Strait near annexed Crimea. As a result, the Black Sea water area and coastal soils were contaminated with fuel oil.
Will the pollution from Tuapse spread to other regions
In a conversation with UNN, the expert explains: meteorological conditions play a key role in the spread of pollution. The direction and strength of the wind determine exactly where the polluted air masses move.
The affected zone depends on many factors, but primarily on the wind direction. It is the wind that determines which territories will receive the greatest load
According to him, in the period after the accident, a significant part of the pollution moved towards the Black Sea coast, as well as deeper into the territory.