Putin ignores disaster as "biggest ecological crisis" hits Russia

 The country faces economic strain and growing pressure at home but instead, Moscow remains deeply entangled in the war in Ukraine while continuing to strengthen ties with Iran.

Now a new crises unfolds closer to home, but it is not getting the focus it deserves.

Fire and fallout

According to The Moscow Times cited by Onet, a Ukrainian drone strike on the night of April 15–16 triggered a massive fire at the Tuapse oil terminal.

The blaze killed two people, injured seven others and forced authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Despite the scale of the incident, environmentalists have described it as “the greatest ecological disaster,” yet there has been no direct public response from President Vladimir Putin.

Crisis deepens

Further strikes in the days that followed reignited fires and led to oil leaking into the sea and nearby river systems.

An oil slick formed off the coast, while what locals described as “oil rain” fell over parts of the city.

“Everything was covered in an oily film and black pellets. At first, we thought it was just dust, but then we realized it looked more like burnt oil,” eyewitnesses told Astra.

Health fears

Toxic smog spread as far as 300 kilometres, reaching cities including Sochi and Stavropol.

Authorities urged residents to stay indoors, shut windows and wear masks, while schools and kindergartens were closed.

Experts warned the pollution could even lead to acid rain in affected areas.

Kremlin silence

While firefighters battled the flames and emergency teams cleared debris, Putin continued with official engagements.

He held meetings on agricultural production, discussed regional projects and attended public events.

He also took part in ceremonies and met foreign officials, without publicly addressing the disaster.

Environmental expert Yevgeny Vitishko said the scale of the crisis could surpass previous incidents in the region, calling it “the biggest ecological disaster.”

Residents have reported animals covered in oil and worsening conditions across the region, with many describing the situation simply as a “disaster.”