Official statements from Russian environmental agencies or verified news reports

Russian Oil Tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 Cause 50-Kilometer Spill of 3,700 Tons in Black Sea Cleanup by 4,000 Volunteers

Dec 18, 2024, 10:00 AM

Two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, were severely damaged during a storm in the Kerch Strait on December 15, leading to a substantial oil spill that has contaminated approximately 50 kilometers of the Black Sea coastline in Russia's Krasnodar region. Reports indicate that at least one of the tankers sank, and the incident is being described as one of the worst environmental disasters in the region in years. An estimated 3,700 to 4,300 tons of fuel oil were spilled, prompting a large-scale cleanup operation involving around 4,000 volunteers. Local wildlife has been severely affected, with reports of stained birds and polluted beaches. The situation worsened as a third tanker, Volgoneft-109, issued a distress signal due to a fuel oil leak, raising concerns about further environmental impact. Authorities are currently monitoring the situation and conducting cleanup efforts along the affected coastline.