Russia’s Tuapse port on the Black Sea has paused fuel exports, and the local refinery has ceased processing crude following Ukrainian drone attacks on Sunday that damaged port infrastructure.
As reported by Reuters, citing industry sources and LSEG ship-tracking data, the Rosneft-operated refinery, responsible for exporting most of its production, halted operations the next day. Multiple reports and official sources confirmed that a nighttime drone strike triggered large fires and damaged an oil tanker.
Prior to the attack, Tuapse was expected to increase its oil product exports in November. LSEG data indicated that three tankers were loading naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil when the strike occurred. By Wednesday, all the vessels had been relocated from the berths and anchored offshore.
In recent months, Kyiv has ramped up its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in an effort to undermine Moscow’s war economy and cut off oil revenue streams that support its invasion.
The Rosneft-operated refinery, capable of processing 240,000 barrels of oil per day, primarily serves export markets such as China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey. Following the attack, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk warned of lasting repercussions for Russia’s maritime sector, stating that the strike could impact refueling firms, drive up insurance costs, and deter future port usage.
Tuapse, in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, has repeatedly come under attack as part of Ukraine’s long-range campaign targeting Russian oil infrastructure. The site has faced multiple strikes this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that attacks on Russian refineries have cut Moscow’s refining and fuel production by approximately 20–27%, leading to shortages and long queues at gas stations. Several facilities have been taken offline, forcing Russia to redirect production.
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