Ukrainian Drone Strike Forces Russian Black Sea Port to Suspend Fuel Export Operations

Fuel exports from the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse have been halted, and the local oil refinery has ceased crude processing following damage from a Ukrainian drone strike, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday.

Prior to the attack on Sunday, the port was anticipated to ramp up fuel exports in November.

However, shipping data analyzed by Reuters indicated that tankers have moved away from their loading docks and are now anchored offshore as of Wednesday.

On the day of the attack, three tankers were reportedly at the port preparing to load naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil.

According to two sources in the industry, the Rosneft-operated refinery stopped its processing operations on Monday due to damage sustained at the port.

This refinery, which has a daily processing capacity of 240,000 barrels of oil, primarily serves markets in China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Turkey.

Following the strike, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk warned of lasting repercussions for Russia’s shipping sector, emphasizing that the attack would not only harm critical technological infrastructure but also impact refueling services, increase insurance costs, and deter many from utilizing the ports.

Russia has consistently blamed Ukraine for intensifying strikes on energy facilities, while Kyiv argues that fuel infrastructure is a legitimate target, as it directly supports the Russian military.

Both Rosneft and Russia’s federal port authority have not responded to requests for comments.