RUSSIAN OIL SPILL: 3,700 tons of oil spill out of 2 tankers battered by storm

SanJuans.Today is elevating our coverage of oil spill risk in the Salish Sea. Periodically, we will report on major oil spills worldwide.

Friday, December 27, 2024
by Jeff Noedel

Attempts to clean up a spill of at least 3,700 tons of oil continue in the Kerch Strait near Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea.

According to new reporting from The Kyiv Independent, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov declared a federal state of emergency yesterday. That declaration will allow for a federal response by the Russian government.

The Independent reports, “The crisis began when two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, suffered severe damage during a storm on Dec. 15. Both vessels were reportedly carrying about 4,000 tons of fuel, which began leaking into the Black Sea.”