Putin is ignoring the massive environmental disaster in Tuapse following the drone attacks
Russian dictator Putin has not commented at all this week on the fire at the oil refinery in Tuapse, which is being called the region’s worst environmental disaster. While the city suffers from “oil rains” and smog that has spread 300 km to Sochi and Stavropol, the Kremlin leader holds meetings on abstract topics and drinks champagne.
The Moscow Times reports on the systematic disregard of the problem amid the declared state of emergency.
The first strike by Ukrainian drones on the terminal occurred on April 16, killing two people and injuring seven residents. That day, Putin was discussing measures to support those fighting in the war against Ukraine, and during the second fire on April 20, he focused on issues related to growing sugar beets and turkeys in the Penza region. The Kremlin’s official chronicle demonstrates a complete disconnect between the president’s agenda and the man-made crisis in the Krasnodar region.
An oil slick covered the streets of Tuapse, and experts warn of the risk of acid rain in Sochi due to high concentrations of combustion products in the atmosphere. At that time, Putin was hosting the president of the Seychelles at the Kremlin and participating in champagne celebrations for athletes. The federal government’s lack of response to the environmental disaster underscores the prioritization of military and ceremonial matters over the safety of its own population. The situation at the refinery remains critical, as fires in the storage tanks have continued for several days in a row.
Environmentalists confirm the seriousness of the situation, pointing to the risks of acid rain, which threatens not only human health but also the fertility of agricultural lands along the coast.
As a reminder, a massive fire continues at an oil terminal in the Russian city of Tuapse, which broke out following a strike by Ukrainian drones on April 16. Efforts to fully extinguish the fire have failed for several days in a row.
Residents of Tuapse, Russia, are increasingly complaining about the unbearable living conditions in the frontline city. The once-popular resort has turned into a zone of environmental disaster and constant danger due to regular explosions at local industrial facilities.
On the night of April 20, Ukrainian defense forces successfully attacked a number of strategic targets, including an oil refinery in Tuapse and two large amphibious assault ships in occupied Sevastopol.
