Fuel oil spill wreaks havoc on Black Sea coastline

The Volgoneft tanker disaster in the Kerch Strait on December 15, 2024, resulted in about 40% of the 9,200-ton fuel oil cargo spilling into the Black Sea. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that by Friday morning, 7,275 tons of contaminated soil had been collected from the beaches of Krasnodar Krai. The pollution covered about 31 miles of coastline.

The authorities in Anapa, a city affected by the spill, assured residents that air pollution levels did not exceed acceptable norms. However, residents reported an unpleasant odor causing eye irritation and nausea. Rescuers and volunteers work in protective masks, and fuel oil has reappeared in some cleaned sections.

Volunteers fear that this is not the end of the problems. They are concerned that as temperatures rise, the fuel settled on the seabed will surface.

Although local media claim that 6,000 people are involved in the cleanup operation, volunteers believe this number is exaggerated. One volunteer reported a lack of equipment, with only two tractors seen along four miles of the shore. Local media are calling for more support for the volunteers.

The effects of the disaster will also impact local wildlife. Dozens of dead seabirds and two dolphins have been found. Environmental expert Dmitriy Shevchenko warns that the mute swans wintering in the region are also at risk. Satellite images show the main oil spill is 2-3 miles from the shore, but the wind drives it toward the land.

The portal "Vedomosti" reports that the number of water pollution incidents in Russia increased by 62% 2023 compared to 2022. Both tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 are aging vessels from the 1960s and 1970s, carrying a shipment for the Russian Navy. According to Radio Svoboda, the ships had their identification systems turned off several days before the disaster.