Russia and Ukraine exchanged overnight attacks on key Black Sea ports, damaging vital infrastructure and underscoring the growing intensity of strikes on energy and transport hubs that are crucial to both economies and to global commodity flows.
In Russia, a drone attack struck the coastal city of Tuapse, hitting a berth at the port and the adjacent oil refinery, according to emergency services.
The assault damaged a crude-processing unit at the plant as well as pipelines and loading equipment at the marine terminal, Ukrainian news service RBC Ukraine reported, citing unidentified sources.
Fires broke out at both the port and the refinery but were later extinguished. Several residential buildings were also damaged, and two people were taken to hospital.
The Tuapse refinery is one of Russia’s significant export-oriented plants, with a processing capacity of around 12 million tonnes a year, or roughly 240,000 barrels a day.
It mainly produces fuel oil, naphtha and diesel for overseas markets. The nearby terminal can handle about 17 million tonnes annually and is a key outlet for fuel shipments from Rosneft refineries in Tuapse, Saratov, Achinsk and Samara, making it an important link in Russia’s energy export chain.
Across the Black Sea, Ukraine reported that Russian forces had struck the port city of Odesa, one of the country’s most important maritime gateways.
Local authorities said at least six people were injured, with residential buildings and infrastructure damaged.
Parts of the city were left without electricity, water and heating, adding to the hardship faced by civilians as winter conditions persist.
The Black Sea has been a focal point of the conflict since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with ports and coastal infrastructure repeatedly targeted.
These attacks have disrupted shipping routes for commodities ranging from grain to oil, raising costs and uncertainty for traders and insurers while heightening concerns about energy security.
Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to hit Russian energy assets, seeking to undermine Moscow’s export revenues, while Russia has continued to launch strikes on Ukrainian ports, power facilities and civilian infrastructure.
In December, Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy installations reached a monthly record, reflecting Kyiv’s expanded strike capabilities.
At the same time, Moscow has pressed on with its campaign against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, keeping pressure on cities and ports that are vital to the country’s economy and its links to the outside world.