Oil rain and toxic fumes: Black Sea town faces environmental catastrophe as Ukrainian strikes rock Russia

War in UkraineOil rain and toxic fumes: Black Sea town faces environmental catastrophe as Ukrainian strikes rock Russia“You can smell it anywhere in the town,” one resident, Svetlana, told NBC News of the acrid stench that gets stronger the closer you get to Tuapse’s center. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00 body:has(.jw-flag-floating) .article-hero__container, body:has(.jw-flag-floating) .article-hero__media-holder, body:has(.jw-flag-floating) #content { z-index: auto; } Add NBC News to GoogleRussian oil depot catches fire after Ukrainian drone strike00:46Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 1, 2026, 7:09 AM EDTBy Yuliya TalmazanThe Black Sea isn’t meant to be this black.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.A popular seaside town in Russia has seen oil wash onto its beaches, dark drops of rain and oil soot land on homes, and plumes of thick acrid smoke billow above its red rooftops.Residents of the usually picturesque Russian resort town of Tuapse were this week warned not to leave the homes or open windows as authorities tackled intense fires from a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on the town’s oil refinery.The huge blaze was finally extinguished Thursday, the local governor said, though another drone attack hit the town’s sea terminal Friday, sparking a fire. Tuapse now faces a daunting cleanup operation and a hit to its upcoming tourist season. Its residents will also be awaiting further attacks, as Ukraine intensifies its campaign to disrupt the Russian oil industry and deprive the Kremlin of crucial funding for its war machine.“You can smell it anywhere in the town,” one resident, Svetlana, told NBC News of the acrid stench that gets stronger the closer you get to Tuapse’s center. Svetlana, who did not want her last name shared out of fear of repercussions for talking about a sensitive security topic, said she could see smoke from her window even though she lives o...