A Russian oil tanker carrying thousands of tonnes of oil products split apart during a heavy storm on Sunday, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait, while another tanker was also in distress after sustaining damage, Russian officials said.
The Volgoneft 212 tanker, with 15 people on board, split in half with its bow sinking, resulting in at least one person being killed. The Russian-flagged vessel, built in 1969, was damaged and had run aground. The second Russian-flagged ship, the Volgoneft 239, was drifting after sustaining damage, with a crew of 14 people.
The Kerch Strait, located between mainland Russia and Crimea, is a key route for exports of Russian grain, crude oil, fuel oil, and liquefied natural gas. The strait has been a point of contention between Russia and Ukraine, with the latter accusing Russia of trying to maintain sole control over it.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered a working group to deal with the rescue operation and mitigate the impact of the fuel spill. Russian authorities have deployed over 50 people and equipment, including helicopters and rescue tugboats, to the area.
Unverified video footage showed some blackened water on stormy seas and a half-submerged tanker, highlighting the severity of the situation. The exact extent of the spill and the reason for the serious damage sustained by one of the tankers have not been disclosed by official sources.
Russian investigators have opened criminal cases to look into possible safety violations related to the incident. Specialists are currently assessing the damage at the site, as efforts are underway to rescue the crew and contain the environmental impact of the spill.