Over the weekend, two Russian tankers wrecked off the Black Sea coastline, causing a significant oil spill that has raised concerns about an environmental disaster. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed alarm over the situation, as videos show blackened waves carrying heavy fuel oil onto shores in Russia's Krasnodar region near the Kerch Strait.
The spill has affected at least 60 kilometers of coastline, with reports of towns declaring an emergency situation and the death of birds contaminated with oil. The tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, were carrying thousands of tons of fuel when they encountered trouble in stormy conditions, with winds reaching up to 70 kph.
Zelensky criticized Moscow for deploying old and poorly maintained vessels into such risky waters, attributing the incident to Russia's aging fleet and the use of Soviet-era tankers. Efforts to clean up the oil spills have been hindered by ongoing stormy weather, making it challenging to predict the timeline for complete coast cleanup.
Russian Governor Veniamin Kondratiev highlighted the difficulties faced in cleaning up the oil spills, with reports of oil washing up along tens of kilometers of coastline. Locals have described the stench as terrible, emphasizing the immediate need for action to address the environmental impact.
Zelensky has called on the international community to sanction Russia's tanker fleet to cut off war funding and protect the environment. The incident underscores the risks associated with aging vessels and the importance of stringent regulations to prevent such environmental disasters in the future.
