April 29, 2026

Black Rain of War


Black Rain of War
The black coast of the Black sea. The Russian Life files.

​​On April 20, an oil rain fell on the Black Sea coast. Several districts of the city of Tuapse were covered in an oily film and small black pellets: the remains of burnt oil.

This was all the result of a fire at an oil terminal caused by a strike from a Ukrainian drone.

Tuapse is in Krasnodar Krai, and is a well-known industrial port on the Black Sea. It also has a thriving resort industry. As reported by Deutsche Welle, since mid-April the city has been subjected to a series of drone strikes, resulting in several deaths. Following an April 16 attack, a fire broke out at an oil refinery, and a large oil slick was discovered in the sea. On April 20, strikes resumed, this time hitting oil storage facilities. It took several days to bring the open flames under control. Another attack on April 28 started the flames once more.

As oil rains repeat, the city is shrouded in acrid smoke that is hazardous to health, and in some areas the concentration of harmful substances is two to three times the norm. Residents of Tuapse are posting photos on social media of the polluted coastline, as well as dead birds and fish; they complain that they do not know how to clean their own dogs and cats.

Yevgeny Vitishko, a well-known environmental activist from Krasnodar and former political prisoner, described the situation as “the region’s worst disaster” in recent times, one that could continue to have a negative impact on the environment for several years. Chemists warn that the combustion products contain polyaromatic compounds, including carcinogens. The smoke has already covered much of the coastline, including popular resort areas such as Sochi and Anapa. 

Vladimir Putin finally mentioned the situation almost two weeks after it arose. “This could potentially lead to serious environmental consequences, but the governor… has just reported that there is no serious danger at present,” said the Russian president.

A brilliant metaphor for the behavior of the Russian authorities was a tree-planting event organized by the Tuapse prosecutor’s office right in the midst of the fires. More than a dozen men and women in uniform gathered on the famous plane-tree avenue that runs along Karl Marx Street in the center of the city. They planted young plane trees and posted photos digging up the ground and smiling at the camera against a backdrop of new trees, while menacing black smoke rises into the sky behind them. “The alley is set to become even greener,” the press office announced, also highlighting “the importance of preserving nature, history and memory.”

Officials planting trees amid oil fires.
Smoky planting ceremony. / VKontakte

 

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