MOSCOW — Recent reports indicate that approximately 3,700 tons of low-grade fuel oil have leaked into the Kerch Strait following severe storm conditions that severely damaged two Russian vessels. The ships involved, identified as the Volgoneft 239 and the Volgoneft 212, were carrying around 9,200 tons of mazut, a type of heavy and low-quality oil. Videos circulating on social media reveal dark oil rising onto the ocean surface amidst the tumultuous waters.
Initial assessments suggest that 3,700 tons of mazut were inadvertently released into the aquatic environment. This information was shared by a Russian state news agency, citing an anonymous source. In a statement, the governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratev, reassured the public that the oil had not yet reached the coastline.
In response to the incident, an emergency rescue operation commenced on Sunday after the Volgoneft-212 tanker became grounded, leading to the loss of its bow in the fierce storm. It has been reported that one member of the 13-person crew perished. The second tanker, the Volgoneft-239, was also reported as damaged and left adrift with a 14-member crew. It eventually grounded approximately 80 meters from the shore, near the port of Taman, where the sailors were successfully rescued subsequently.
Announcements from Russian authorities confirmed the existence of the oil spill, although experts are still in the process of evaluating the full implications and scope of the disaster. Meanwhile, Greenpeace Ukraine pledged to keep a close eye on the evolving situation. Notably, the organization has been unable to operate in Russia since it was labeled as an “undesirable organization” by the Russian government in 2023.
Dr. Paul Johnston, leading the research laboratories at Greenpeace and based at the University of Exeter in the UK, conveyed his concerns about the potential severity of such spills in these regions. “Any oil or petrochemical spill in these waters could have catastrophic effects,” he explained. He added that the prevailing winds and currents could complicate containment efforts, particularly under the existing weather circumstances, warning of the likelihood of significant shoreline contamination.
The Kerch Strait plays a pivotal role in global shipping, linking the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea, while also serving as a geographic barrier between the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula and mainland Russia. This region has been a focal point of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, particularly since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. In 2016, Ukraine escalated matters by bringing Russia before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, accusing it of attempting to unlawfully seize control over the area. Moreover, in 2021, Russia temporarily closed the strait, exacerbating the existing geopolitical conflicts.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, has characterized the oil leak as a major environmental catastrophe linked to the ongoing war and urged for stricter sanctions against Russian tankers. He expressed his concerns regarding the environmental ramifications, writing on social media that the incidents involving the two aged tankers in the Kerch Strait have led to another significant crisis, resulting in widespread harm to the ecosystems in the Azov and Black Seas.