Russian attack on Chornomorsk port causes 1,100-ton oil leak at Kernel terminal

Direct hits destroyed and damaged oil storage tanks, causing more than 1,100 tons of product to leak, Kernel told NV Business. The spill was quickly contained, and the oil did not reach the sea, posing no environmental threat, the company said.

The strike triggered a large fire that spread across part of the production facilities. Emergency crews quickly extinguished it.

The fire and drone debris damaged equipment, office premises and logistics infrastructure. Four railway tank cars were also damaged.

The company suspended the receipt and shipment of products because of the extensive damage.

One employee sustained moderate injuries in the attack.

Work is underway to deal with the aftermath of the strike and assess the scale of damage to the infrastructure.

Despite the temporary loss of operational capacity at its Chornomorsk terminal, Kernel said it is continuing to fulfill export contracts and ensure uninterrupted deliveries to customers. The company is using partner port terminals in Odesa and on the Danube, as well as land logistics, including rail transport.

Kernel is Ukraine’s largest agricultural exporter. The company accounted for 10% of the country’s total foreign currency revenue from goods exports in 2025.

Kernel supplied 8 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products to international markets in the 2025 fiscal year. The company accounts for 10% of global sunflower oil exports.

Russia attacked Odesa and Izmail on May 1, 2026, with drones hitting two apartment buildings and triggering fires at the port, earlier reports said.