Falling debris from intercepted drones triggered a fire at a major oil terminal in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk early Saturday, regional officials confirmed, leaving at least one person injured.

The General Headquarters of the southern Krasnodar Region disclosed via its Telegram channel that the incident occurred during an overnight drone assault.

According to local authorities, Russian air defense systems engaged multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the area, but falling wreckage subsequently ignited several technical and administrative buildings.

Crucially for global energy markets, emergency services reported that debris also impacted the facility’s onshore oil storage terminal, prompting an immediate deployment of firefighting units to contain the blaze.

The Novorossiysk port infrastructure represents a critical gateway for regional seaborne oil exports, frequently handling large volumes of crude and refined petroleum products bound for international consumers.

The Krasnodar regional operations headquarters stated that emergency response protocols were immediately activated at the commercial port, and technicians are currently monitoring the site to determine the precise level of operational impact.

Local municipal authorities have urged residents near the industrial harbor area to remain calm as containment efforts continue.

Officials have not yet provided a timeline for the complete extinguishment of the fire or a detailed assessment of the damage to the storage tanks.

Maritime traffic tracking data showed several oil tankers anchored outside the port area awaiting clearance, as security protocols in the Black Sea shipping lanes remain heightened following the attack.
Source: Investing.com