Oil spill from Russian tankers could reach Ukrainian Odesa and Mykolaiv coasts

11:14, 09.01.2025 1 min read

Fuel oil from the two Russian tankers involved in accidents in the Kerch Strait may reach the coasts of Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Mykolaiv, according to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk.

"Unfortunately, currents make it likely that the fuel oil could reach our Odesa and Mykolaiv coasts," he said during a national news telecast on Thursday.

On December 15, two tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, began sinking in the Kerch Strait. Each tanker carried 13 and 14 crew members, respectively. Thirteen crew members from "Volgoneft 212" were evacuated, with one fatality. The tankers were transporting fuel oil, and oil spills were recorded in the sea.

On December 17, Ukrainian Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Svitlana Hrynchuk estimated preliminary damages from the tanker accidents at $14 billion.