Fire at Russian Oil Refinery Causes Ongoing Cross-Border Air Pollution

A Ukrainian drone attack on a large inland oil refinery in Russia sparked a massive fire. The burning of crude oil, sulfides, and heavy metals produced thick black smoke, and pollutants drifted westward toward the Eastern European border. PM2.5 concentrations in a border city in Belarus briefly surged 2.8 times, local authorities issued a temporary advisory urging residents to limit prolonged outdoor activities. Oil-contaminated wastewater from the fire has flowed into inland rivers, posing a threat to freshwater ecosystems along the riverbanks.