Russia's Black Sea Coast Becomes a Perilous Vacation Spot: Oil, Drone Attacks, and Fuel Shortages
For the second summer, Russia's Black Sea coast faces threats from drone attacks and oil spills, yet many Russians continue to visit due to limited alternatives.
In 2025, Anapa banned swimming after two oil tankers wrecked, causing an environmental disaster. In 2026, restrictions were lifted, but petroleum products again entered the sea after a Ukrainian drone strike on the Tuapse oil refinery.
Reporters from the independent cooperative "Bereg" traveled to Krasnodar Krai to assess the situation. Mineralnye Vody Airport saw constant delays due to airspace closures over Sochi, the transit point to Tuapse. "We could have been vacationing in Crimea or the Maldives if it weren't for Putin!" a teenage passenger exclaimed.
In Tuapse, internet was completely shut down, and taxi drivers charged exorbitant rates. Hotels displayed evacuation instructions for drone attacks. The Primorsky beach had few visitors, with pebbles stained by oil residue. The central beach was closed, officially for cleanup, but residents suspect military equipment deployment.
"Evacuations were announced almost every day at one point," a hotel employee said. Despite the dangers, tourists keep coming, as other destinations are increasingly inaccessible.