A severe storm damaged two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, in the Kerch Strait, causing a major oil spill in the Black Sea. Greenpeace Ukraine, citing Russian sources, reported a leak of 3,700 tons of oil, surpassing the 2007 spill that devastated marine life. Russian media confirmed that Volgoneft 212’s bow tore off, killing one crew member, while Volgoneft 239 ran aground near Taman. 14 crew members were rescued.
Read more: Donald Trump Named Person of The Year for the Second Time
The spill threatens the environment as stormy weather complicates cleanup efforts. Ukraine’s navy spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, accused Russia of ignoring safety regulations by using 50-year-old vessels. He said, “Transferring Russian oil is more important to them than safety.” Meanwhile, the EU imposed new sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which helps evade oil transport rules. Ukraine’s President Zelensky supported the move, stating, “Russia’s war machine runs on oil.”
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates.