Cleanup efforts continued in the Kerch Strait adjacent to the Russian-occupied region of Crimea on Sunday, following a significant spill of at least 3,700 tons of low-grade fuel oil released from two Russian tankers during severe storm conditions a week prior.
Reports indicate that over 7,500 individuals, including numerous volunteers, are actively engaged in efforts to rescue wildlife and cleanse the shorelines tainted by mazut, a type of heavy and low-quality oil. As of Sunday afternoon, more than 12,000 tons of polluted soil had been extracted along a stretch of 34 kilometers (21 miles) of the coast, according to information from Russian state media.
Despite earlier claims of a successfully completed cleanup operation along Crimea’s shores, oil has continued to wash ashore, as reported by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations. This area has been a point of contention since Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Additionally, local scientist Tatyana Beley revealed through state media that her research team had found 11 dead dolphins, which appeared to have died due to their airways being obstructed by the spilled oil.
The oil spill incident was triggered last Sunday when the Volgoneft-212 tanker grounded and sustained severe damage in the stormy weather. Unfortunately, one sailor from its 13-member crew lost his life, while the second tanker, Volgoneft-239, also suffered damage and became adrift before ultimately running aground near the port of Taman in Krasnodar, where the 14 crew members were successfully rescued.
Greenpeace Ukraine reported that at least 60 kilometers (37 miles) of coastline have been affected by the spill. Since designated as an “undesirable organization” by the Russian government in 2023, the charity has not been able to operate within Russia.
Concerns have been raised by some media outlets critical of the Kremlin and international observers regarding the inadequate support from state authorities, as local volunteers reported experiencing severe symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting after prolonged exposure to toxic fumes during cleanup operations.
The Kerch Strait serves as a crucial international shipping lane, linking the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea, and separates the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula from mainland Russia. This region has been a focal point of geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia since the annexation. In 2016, Ukraine submitted a case against Russia to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, alleging illegal attempts to gain control over the area. Furthermore, in 2021, the strait was closed for several months by Russian authorities.
Mykhailo Podolyak, who serves as an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, characterized the oil spill as a significant environmental disaster stemming from the ongoing conflict and called for stricter sanctions against Russian tankers involved in such incidents.