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Oil Spill From Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 Tankers Reaches Crimea, 2,400 Tons Leaked

Jan 3, 2025, 08:00 AM

An oil spill from two damaged Russian tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, has reached the beaches of Crimea, exacerbating an ecological disaster in the region. The tankers were carrying 9,200 tons of heavy fuel oil when they encountered a storm in the Kerch Strait in mid-December. Approximately 2,400 tons of fuel oil leaked into the Black Sea. The spill has led to the removal of nearly 73,000 tons of oil-contaminated sand from beaches along the Russian coast, with authorities estimating that up to 200,000 tons of soil may be affected. The oil has been detected on beaches in Crimea, including Sevastopol, prompting a large-scale cleanup operation involving thousands of volunteers. The spill has caused significant environmental damage, affecting marine life, including birds and dolphins, with over 2,500 birds rescued and cleaned so far. The Russian government declared a state of emergency in response to the spill, which President Vladimir Putin described as an 'ecological disaster.'