UKRAINIAN drone strikes have turned Russia’s holiday coast into “Costa del hell” as toxic “oil rain” pours down near Vlad’s estate.
Kyiv blasted two major oil plants in the Russian resort town of Tuapse and smothered the region in oil, fires and toxic black smoke.
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Drone-hit Tuapse spews oil rain, toxic smog and a massive sea oil spill across tourist coast just before peak holiday season Credit: East2West
Satellite footage shows the smoke cloud billowing out across the city Credit: Reuters
The vast plume stretches out for nearly 200 miles Credit: East2West
The toxic smog of the “disaster zone” may even contaminate Putin’s lair, a £1 billion palace just 47 miles away from the stricken seaside hotspot.
The overnight strikes on April 20 are the second of Kyiv’s attacks on the oil plant in the last two weeks.
The escalating blasts follow Putin’s refusal to hammer out a ceasefire deal over Easter.
The Tuapse refinery had already halted operations after Ukrainian drones rained hell on the plant on April 16.
The fires at the oil depot have been burning for three days and the oil rain is coating homes, cars and streets in a sticky, black residue.
Residents near the blitz site described the scenes as apocalyptic.
A woman from Krivenkovskoye village, 25km northwest of Tuapse — in the direction of Putin’s palace — said: “We have oil everywhere now.
“Puddles are black from oil, roads are covered with oil… it’s so bad, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
In Tuapse itself, locals report wildlife coated in fuel oil and unable to move.
One resident wrote on social media: “Birds, completely covered in oil… they cannot fly, cannot move. It is as if they have already given up.”
Windows were shattered at a school, kindergarten, church, museum, and an apartment building, while a gas pipeline was also damaged.
The blasts on the Rosneft – owned refineries deal a fresh blow to Putin’s dwindling energy supplies.
The strikes have choked off exports and damaged the cash flow to Putin’s war machine.
Fires and toxic rainfall following the multi-day attack continue into April 22 as Russians flee the stricken territory.
Russian state media insist the noxious fumes, oil rain and sticky black residue will not have a negative impact on holiday plans to the coastal hotspot.
The Kremlin nonetheless condemned the strikes as “environmental terrorism”.
But a Ukrainian source clapped back: “This is Putin’s fault. We proposed a ceasefire.
“He rejected it and each day strikes our civilians. How are we supposed to respond.”
The infernos in Tuapse have been burning for three days Credit: Reuters
The toxic fumes may infiltrate Putin’s lair Credit: East2West
The Tuapse seaside coast is a holiday hotspot for Russians Credit: East2West
Horrid smoke blankets the region as Russians flee the stricken city Credit: East2West