Fuel oil from Russian tankers reaches shores of Azov Sea. PHOTOS
In the Sea of Azov, following the accident of Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait, a concentrated oil slick of 300 square kilometres was recorded, stretching for almost 100 kilometres along the Gulf of Bilosaray.
This is reported by the Mariupol City Council and the Centre for Investigative Journalism, Censor.NET reports.
Sentinel-2 satellite imagery captured an oil slick near occupied Berdiansk.
"Given the currents and wind direction in the region, it is likely that the fuel oil will be carried further west, towards the Arabat Spit, approaching Mariupol," the statement said.
On 11 January 2025, the occupation authorities of the TOT in the Zaporizhzhia region confirmed the release of fuel oil in Berdiansk and reported a small area of pollution on the Peresyp Spit, which is over 14 km long.
Fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait
On 5 December, two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, began to sink near the coast in the Kerch Strait. The accident was caused by a severe storm. One of the tankers was cut almost in half by the waves.
On 21 December, a state of emergency was declared in Kerch because of fuel oil from Russian tankers that had been shipwrecked in the Kerch Strait.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Environment noted that fuel oil could reach the Sea of Azov by 27-29 December. Protected areas, including the Opuk Nature Reserve and the Cape Takil Landscape Park, are under threat.
On 27 December, it became known that Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared a state of emergency of federal significance due to a fuel oil spill in the Black Sea after two tankers crashed.
On 4 January 2025, a state of emergency of regional significance was declared in Sevastopol in the occupied Crimea due to fuel oil spills found on the shore.
On the morning of 11 January, it became known that at least 60 dolphins had died as a result of a fuel oil spill in the Black Sea.
