An ecological disaster caused by two Russian tankers stranded in the Black Sea threatens Crimea. Thousands of tons of fuel oil were spilled, polluting the beaches. The authorities had to declare a state of emergency and mobilize volunteers to…
An unprecedented ecological disaster is currently hitting Russia and Crimea. In mid-December, two Russian tankers, the Volgoneft-212 and the Volgoneft-239, ran aground during a violent storm in the Kerch Strait, spilling thousands of tons of fuel oil into the Black Sea. This oil spill of considerable magnitude could cause irreversible damage to the environment.
A “critical” situation and the state of emergency declared in Crimea
Faced with the extent of the pollution, the Russian authorities described the situation as “critical”. According to sources close to the matter, the negative consequences for the ecology would unfortunately be inevitable. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov called on government authorities to make “maximum efforts” to manage this crisis.
In Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, a state of emergency was declared by leader Sergei Aksionov. An exceptional measure which demonstrates the seriousness of the situation and the urgency of acting to try to limit the impact of this oil spill.
9,200 tonnes of fuel oil spilled, 40% could have leaked
The two damaged tankers were transporting a total of 9,200 tonnes of fuel oil. According to initial estimates, around 40% of this cargo has already spilled into the waters of the Black Sea. A real ecological disaster that threatens the entire marine ecosystem of the region.
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to calculate at the moment the extent of the damage caused to the environment, but specialists regularly carry out this work”
Dmitri Peskov, porte-parole du Kremlin
Beaches in southwest Russia soiled by fuel oil
This oil spill is already having disastrous consequences on the coast of southwest Russia, a very touristy region. The fine sandy beaches are stained with sticky fuel oil, transforming this seaside paradise into a spectacle of desolation. Thousands of volunteers have mobilized to clean the beaches but their equipment is insufficient according to scientists.
Up to 200,000 tonnes of soil could be polluted
Beyond the damage at sea, this ecological disaster could also have a major impact on land. President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that it could be massive pollution affecting up to 200,000 tonnes of soil. A real time bomb for the environment of the entire region.
If the Russian authorities want to be reassuring by claiming to have cleaned all the polluted areas identified, the threat of a new leak persists. The Minister of Emergency Situations, Alexandre Kourenkov, called for the greatest vigilance. A race against time is underway to try to stem this oil spill with potentially disastrous consequences.
