A Russian tanker encountered a serious incident during a fierce storm in the Black Sea on Sunday. The ship, the Volgodonsk 212, broke apart and spilled a significant amount of its fuel oil cargo, raising concerns about a possible major environmental disaster.
The tanker sank about eight kilometers from the shore in the Kerch Strait, which divides the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula from mainland Russia. Tragically, reports indicate that at least one crew member lost their life in the accident.
Following the incident, another tanker named Volgodonsk 239 faced difficulties too; it ran aground after taking damage and came to rest in shallow waters near the port of Taman.
In response to the crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to establish a task force aimed at rescuing the crew members and managing the environmental impact of the spill.
Emergency services reported that 13 people were evacuated from the Volgodonsk 212, with 11 of them hospitalized due to hypothermia, two in serious condition. The crew on the second tanker remained on board as of Sunday evening due to the challenging weather conditions. Officials noted that this vessel was equipped with essential supplies for disaster relief efforts.
Authorities are investigating the possibility of crew error or storm damage as factors contributing to the beaching of the second tanker. The vessels, constructed in the early 1980s, were primarily designed for river navigation, only venturing into coastal areas during favorable weather.
Emergency crews observed a visible oil slick forming around the Volgodonsk 212, although specific details about the volume of fuel spilled were not available. Social media footage captured the tanker disintegrating amid strong waves, causing the surrounding water to turn black.
The Kerch Strait serves as a vital route for Russia’s agricultural and energy shipments, including grain exported from territories it occupies in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Ukraine has accused Russia of breaching international law by asserting exclusive rights over the strait after the annexation of Crimea in 2014.