The sinking of two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, on December 15 during a storm in the Kerch Strait, caused a massive oil spill. This strategic area, located between Russia and Crimea annexed in 2014, saw nearly 40% of the 9,200 tons of fuel oil transported by the vessels spill into the sea.
Criticism of crisis management
Russian authorities claim to have already collected 30,000 tons of contaminated soil. However, experts and scientists believe these efforts are insufficient. Viktor Danilov-Danilian, a hydrologist from the Russian Academy of Sciences, highlighted at a press conference the lack of proper equipment on-site. He criticized the use of shovels and useless plastic bags, deemed inadequate for the scale of the pollution.
This management has raised questions about the local and national authorities’ ability to effectively respond to ecological crises of this magnitude. According to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, up to 200,000 tons of soil could be affected.
Economic and political impacts
This oil spill could have significant economic repercussions in the region, particularly for the tourism sector. The beaches of Krasnodar, popular with holidaymakers, are now stained with fuel oil, which could affect the upcoming summer season.
On the political front, President Vladimir Putin called this event an ecological catastrophe. However, rare public criticisms in Russia highlight dysfunctions in the country’s environmental management. While the involvement of volunteers has been praised, their lack of technical resources remains a concern.
Risks to neighboring areas
Experts in industrial ecology warn that pollution could spread to Crimea. Sergey Ostakh, a professor in industrial ecology, emphasized that the absence of rapid preventive measures would worsen the damage. Additionally, the deaths of 21 dolphins were reported by the Delfa Center, although analyses are still underway to determine the exact causes.
