Environmentalists have pointed out the risks to residents of Tuapse due to the burning of petroleum products.

Combustion products are dangerous to humans and can lead to health problems. Environmentalists noted that authorities should evacuate children and pregnant women amid the constant fires in Tuapse. They believe a full cleanup of the coastline in time for the holiday season is unlikely.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," a drone attacked the Tuapse seaport on the night of May 1. There were no casualties. 128 people are involved in extinguishing the fire, according to the Krasnodar Krai task force. Previous fires, which took several days to extinguish, occurred after drone attacks on April 16, 20, and 28. Authorities estimate 790 people are involved in the aftermath of the drone strikes—143 of whom are extinguishing the fire at the seaport, and 50 are cleaning the city's streets and monuments. Volunteers are cleaning areas far from the city center; they are short of both hands and government support. In the village of Tyumensky alone, it will take about two months to clean up the emissions at the current rate, they stated.

Ecologists point out the risks to residents

Oil combustion products contain carcinogenic polyaromatic compounds. Brinikh adds that the symptoms in people are similar to chemical poisoning: "nausea, dizziness, lung damage, even loss of consciousness," ecologist Igor Shkradyuk told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Ecologist Valery Brinikh believes it is necessary to step up evacuation efforts. "Children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses need to be evacuated first," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Combustion products can be eliminated from the body, but slowly and with strain on the liver and other systems, or they can remain there permanently, leading to cancer. Everything depends on the severity of poisoning and the length of exposure to the toxic environment. There is also a risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous system diseases. Environmentalists believe stress is an additional factor in such situations.

Brinich also pointed to the lack of independent laboratories: "We cannot verify government statements. Constant monitoring of air, water, and soil is necessary," he emphasized.

Cleanup measures must be comprehensive and depend on the type of contamination. Contaminated land areas must be washed with water or treated with biopreparations containing microorganisms that break down petroleum products, Shkradyuk said.

"Houses, benches, and all surfaces that come into contact with people flooded by oil rain must be thoroughly washed with detergents. Rivers should be blocked with booms, and accumulated petroleum products should be pumped out. At sea, slicks must be localized, compressed, and removed with skimmers," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Coastal cleanup can take a long time.

Coastal areas, especially pebbly ones, require a special approach: stones are cleaned manually or with jets of hot water using high-pressure devices. Shkradyuk explained that sorbents that absorb oil products are used in narrow crevices.

Shkradyuk estimates that the minimum cleanup time is at least a month, but under difficult conditions it could take longer. The work will require "thousands of people, including local residents, hundreds of rescuers, and volunteers," the specialist believes.

Brinikh considers these estimates optimistic. "In practice, cleanup could take not only months but years. We don't know the extent of future damage and possible new emissions," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He said municipalities have a well-established practice of sending public sector and business employees dependent on officials to do all the dirty work. They divide the areas of responsibility for cleanup between them: "In municipal areas, public sector employees and volunteers typically work." "And on private lands, they are the owners," Brinikh explained.

Experts cite the use of sorbents, biopreparations, booms, skimmers, and installations for cleaning contaminated soil without burning as necessary technologies.

Shkradyuk emphasizes that burning is unacceptable.

"Residents have already inhaled combustion products; safer methods are needed." If the situation is declared a federal emergency, the priority measures should be restoring infrastructure, providing cleanup crews with protective equipment, and transparently communicating the composition of the pollutants," he explained. Ecologist Tatyana Tribrat notes that even with external beach cleanups, risks remain. "Oil products can remain in the soil, water, and air. Without long-term monitoring, it is premature to talk about safety," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to Shkradyuk, the pollution has affected more than 60 km of coastline. The slicks in the sea continue to move, increasing the area of ​​contamination.

Residents called the situation a systemic crisis

Eyewitnesses confirm the scale of the problem. Tuapse resident Sergey P., who traveled along the coast on the commuter train on April 30, said he saw "a solid black line of fuel oil near the shore for at least 50 kilometers." He noted that the beaches in Tuapse are predominantly pebble, and in some areas, people in protective suits and equipment are working. "But not everywhere where there are oil spills," the man stated.

Local activist Oleg K. describes the situation as systemic Crisis.

"All over the region, hazardous waste dumps and oil refineries are burning, people are breathing in toxic gases. Clinics are overcrowded, the water is contaminated with fuel oil, and the soil is poisoned. And against this backdrop, they're talking about the resort season," he noted.

Environmentalists are skeptical about the prospects for a safe vacation. Shkradyuk questions safety guarantees, and Brinikh bluntly states: "I wouldn't go to a resort like that."

At the same time, he emphasizes that the decision is up to tourists.

"If people believe the government's statements, that's their choice. Trying to convince anyone who believes the government in this situation is futile. The government is responsible for the people who trust it. They should be held accountable in the event of unfavorable outcomes," said Valery Brinikh.

Throughout the entire Tuapse Okrug, A regional emergency regime has been declared. Information on emergency assessment criteria, response levels, structures, and resources for eliminating the consequences can be found in the "Caucasian Knot" fact sheet "Emergency Situation Regime (ES)".

Furthermore, on April 24, after the breakthrough An oil spill occurred in the Black Sea due to rising water levels in the Tuapse River due to booms. Authorities declared the spill "local," but the oil spill spread to nearby villages. Fuel oil has spread over a large area, and local residents told the Caucasian Knot on April 26, and it is being cleaned up mainly by volunteers.

18:09 26.12.2025

A Tuapse resident complained about delays in home repairs after a drone attack

A Tuapse resident's apartment was completely destroyed by fire after a drone attack on November 25. She is forced to live in rented accommodation. Neighboring apartments were also damaged, but a month later, on the orders of the authorities, they only put up a film instead of a roof.

As a reminder, a Tuapse resident, Evgeniya, left the city on April 28 because she believes the conditions there are dangerous for children's health.

"My apartment was destroyed after a drone attack on November 25th last year. I moved to another, quieter area, but after the latest attack, I decided to move further away. I have been renting an apartment for five months at my own expense. I do not have temporary housing. "They provided it. We appealed to the authorities for help, but they turned a deaf ear," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Materials about the consequences of the fuel oil spills in the Kerch Strait and in Tuapse have been collected by the "Caucasian Knot" on the page "Eco-disaster in Kuban". Data on the scale of coastal pollution was collected by the Caucasian Knot in the reference material "Fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait".