A significant oil spill occurred along the Russian Black Sea coast after two tankers were severely damaged in a storm over the weekend of December 14-15, 2024.
The Volgoneft 212 split in half on December 15 in the Kerch Strait, while the Volgoneft 239 ran aground near the port of Taman. These two aging tankers, both over 50 years old, were carrying a combined 9,200 metric tons of oil products, raising concerns about one of the largest environmental disasters in the region in years.
According to Reuters, a local state of emergency was declared on December 17 in several settlements due to the spill.
Oil products were found along tens of kilometers of coastline from Temryuk to Anapa. The spill, which was first noticed on December 17, has impacted the local marine ecosystem, particularly in the Kerch Strait, an important area for migrating dolphins and other sea mammals.
Authorities reported a third tanker, the Volgoneft 109, sent a distress signal on December 17 but has not spilled any oil and its crew is safe, Reuters reports.
