Residents of Anapa complained about the concealment of the cause of the chemical smell in the city.

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Information about the sources of the strong chemical odor that Anapa residents recently experienced is being concealed from the public; they say it is impossible to obtain an honest, independent air quality test.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Anapa residents complained of a gas smell on May 9. The mayor stated that the smell was related to construction work near Novorossiysk and did not pose a threat, but Telegram users disagreed.

The environmental situation in Anapa worsened after the December 15 In 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. Following the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait, Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) declared 141 beaches in Anapa and nine beaches in the Temryuk District unsuitable for recreation. In 2025, following the fuel oil spill, 60% fewer tourists visited Anapa than in 2024. Due to a record drop in revenue, Anapa's sanatoriums and children's camps are teetering on the brink of closure. An oil spill has led to catastrophic environmental consequences, according to a "Caucasian Knot" report, "Fuel Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait."

Anapa residents and visitors interviewed by a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on May 12 confirmed that a strong chemical odor was detected in various areas of the city on May 9-10, causing people to close their windows and complain of headaches, coughing, nausea, and a sore throat. They believe that information about possible sources of pollution is being hidden from the public, and residents have been unable to obtain independent air quality testing for about a year.

"We wrote petitions and collective letters, but they didn't even respond," said Elena, a resident of a building on Lenin Street.

According to residents, the odor was particularly strong in the areas of Lenin and Evskina Streets, Red Square, Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, and near the central market.

Marina, a resident of Evskina Street She said that on the evening of May 9th, the smell was so strong that the family had to stay indoors and close the windows. "The smell would disappear and then return. But it was there throughout the day. It was very pungent, suffocating, like household gas and petrochemicals mixed with garlic. It was impossible to even stay indoors—everything was coming from the street," she said.

I'm an asthmatic myself, so I was just suffocating.

According to her, it was a complete nightmare for asthmatics. "I'm an asthmatic myself, so I was just suffocating," the woman said. She said that after the smell appeared, she developed a headache and started coughing. "In situations like this, I start having panic attacks. "Perhaps healthy people tolerate it better," Marina admitted.

Olga, a resident of the area where the large shopping and entertainment center "Red Square" is located, confirmed that the chemical smell lingered for several hours. "Bitterness in the mouth, a sore throat, nausea. It felt like the air was poisoned. And this isn't the first time," she said.

Sergey, a resident of Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, reported that the smell penetrated even into his tightly closed apartment. "All the windows were closed, but the stench still lingered. I started getting a severe headache, a sore throat, and a cough," he said.

Natalya, a visitor to Anapa, said that she felt worse after a walk with her child. She is outraged that no one in the authorities is notifying tourists, explaining what it is, or how dangerous it is to their health. "At first, I thought there was a gas leak. Then the smell disappeared, but after a while, it returned. I started feeling nauseous. My child didn't complain, he's still small," she said.

The air was heavy, suffocating. Some actually compared it to gas chambers.

Anapa resident Yulia compared the situation to poisoning. "It was especially clear on May 9th. Lots of people were outside, celebrating Victory Day. The air was heavy, suffocating. "Some actually compared it to gas chambers," she said.

Respondents don't believe Anapa Mayor Svetlana Maslova, who stated that the smell is related to work in the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka area near Novorossiysk and "poses no threat."

"Residents are under the impression that the tests are being done according to the authorities' needs, not according to the actual results. People are saying: either choke silently, or you'll be accused of spreading fake news because independent labs will give the 'correct' results," said an Anapa resident who identified himself as Andrey. He noted that in situations like these, independent environmental studies and open publication of measurement results are especially important.

Anapa resident Egor called the situation "an old story." "Complaints have been coming in for several years now. While people are filing complaints en masse, the smell seems to disappear. Then the flow of complaints stops, and it all starts again," he said.

Independent air quality monitoring is needed

Anapa activist Ilya Gogolinsky believes that without professional monitoring, it is impossible to determine the source of pollution. "We need monitoring with professional measurements <...> But that's about the same as trying to monitor the Kremlin - no one will be allowed in," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A year ago, we discussed this issue in detail, then there was a long pause, and now the gas "attacks" have started again.

According to him, the spread of the smell depends on the wind, so in some areas of Anapa the stench is strong, while in neighboring areas it may not be noticeable. There may not be any gas at all. "These streams are seeping into certain areas like steam. Everything depends on the wind and the terrain," the source explained. He also stated that residents have been discussing for several years a possible connection between the smell and the Russkaya compressor station, which supports the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. "We discussed this topic in detail a year ago, then there was a long pause, and now the gas 'attacks' have started again. And when they call 112, they're telling people about Novorossiysk and tankers again," the activist said.

According to Ilya, independent air quality monitoring in the region is virtually nonexistent. "We can try to monitor the gas situation near the compressor station, but it's an expensive procedure that needs to be done by specialists with equipment. Otherwise, the authorities will continue to claim that everything is within normal limits," he stated.

Residents have virtually no access to independent air, water, and gas laboratories. soil

Elena Pavlova, a lawyer from Krasnodar Krai, commented on the situation and pointed out that Russian legislation guarantees citizens the right to reliable information about the state of the environment. “Article 42 of the Russian Constitution directly enshrines the right of citizens to a favorable environment and reliable information about its condition. Similar provisions are contained in the federal law “On Environmental Protection.” But the problem is that residents effectively lack access to independent air, water, and soil laboratories,” she told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

According to the lawyer, people fear that official inspections do not reflect the real situation. “And this is not without reason,” she believes.

Deputy Oleg Yansen also spoke of the need for professional air monitoring and the publication of research results. However, he noted that he personally did not smell any odors. “Perhaps because the smell spreads "Not all areas of the city," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In local chats, residents are discussing a possible connection between the smell and mercaptans—sulfur-containing substances with a pungent odor used in the gas industry. Mercaptans are what give household gas its characteristic odor, allowing leaks to be detected.

Ecologists have previously noted that exposure to such substances, even in small concentrations, can cause headaches, nausea, irritation of the mucous membranes, coughing, and a deterioration in health. Without special studies, it is impossible to determine the exact source of the pollution, the experts emphasize.

According to residents, despite numerous requests, they have still not been provided with official data on the results of independent air quality tests.

Earlier, Novorossiysk ecologist Tatiana Tribrat told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the odors from the tankers have been bothering residents for a long time. "Empty tankers are filled with exhaust gases to prevent explosions. Before loading oil, they are purged, and all these gases are released into the atmosphere. Now, perhaps, the transshipment has been moved closer to Gelendzhik due to complaints from Novorossiysk residents,” she believes, adding that residents of Anapa, Novorossiysk, and Gelendzhik are suffering from this stench.

I would rather agree with the mayor of Anapa that it is in Abrau-Dyurso at the CPC terminal.

Ecologist Igor Shkradyuk notes that he agrees more with the explanations of the mayor of Anapa than with those who suggest that the cause is the Russkaya CS. “The Russkaya CS is a compressor station for a high-pressure gas pipeline. There are no mercaptans there. I would rather agree with The mayor of Anapa said it was at the CPC terminal in Abrau-Dyurso. "If people notice the smell of oil, it's always better for your health to wear respirators when going outside," he told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

As a reminder, a fire broke out at the Tuapse marine terminal on May 1 after a drone attack. It was extinguished on May 2. This fire was the fourth in Tuapse since April 16. Furthermore, on April 24, after booms broke due to rising water levels in the Tuapse River, an oil spill occurred into the Black Sea. A series of attacks on Tuapse's oil infrastructure has led to environmental consequences, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Fires and 'Oil Rains': Key Information on the Environmental Disaster in Tuapse".

Materials Information about the consequences of the fuel oil spill in Anapa and Tuapse has been collected by the "Caucasian Knot" on the page "Eco-disaster in Kuban".