Officials in Russia raised alarms on Wednesday about the significant environmental threat caused by a catastrophic oil spill, which occurred more than two weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, an area near the Crimean Peninsula, currently under Russian control.
Over 10,000 individuals, mostly volunteers, mobilized to assist in salvaging wildlife and clearing extensive amounts of mazut, a heavy and low-quality oil, that had permeated the region’s beaches. Reports from various Russian news outlets confirmed the community’s quick response to this environmental crisis.
A regional emergency was declared in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region last week as fuel oil persisted in contaminating the coastlines, a staggering 10 days following the grounding of one tanker and the damage of another on December 15. This urgent action was announced shortly after President Vladimir Putin labeled the incident an “ecological disaster.” On New Year’s Day, local authorities noted that the oil was still surfacing along the beaches of Anapa, a well-frequented resort.
As per statements from the Russian emergencies ministry, over 71,000 tons of polluted sand and soil had already been extracted from around 56 kilometers (approximately 35 miles) of affected shoreline. An earlier estimate from December 23 projected that up to 200,000 tons could be contaminated due to the incident.
Critics of the Kremlin, via various media outlets, reported that volunteers facing the challenges stemming from the spill felt the government’s assistance was inadequate. Many reported symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting after prolonged exposure to harmful fumes, indicating a lack of appropriate safety equipment and protective measures.
Calls have been made for the involvement of international experts to address the spill’s impact adequately, given its significant scale. Numerous images circulated on social media and local news demonstrated seabirds marred by the blackened oil.
According to the local Delfa dolphin rescue center, the spill has potentially resulted in the deaths of over 20 dolphins, with tests underway to determine the exact cause of these fatalities.
The Kerch Strait is a crucial maritime corridor that links the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea, separating the Crimean Peninsula from Russia. This area has also been a focal point of tension between Russia and Ukraine since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Ukraine took Russia to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, accusing it of attempting to unlawfully take control of the strait, while in 2021, Russia obstructed passage through the strait for several months.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, previously denoted the oil spill as a “large-scale environmental disaster,” urging for heightened sanctions against Russian maritime operations.
