**Russian Tanker Spill Could Reach Ukraine’s Coast**
A fuel spill from two Russian tankers in the Black Sea could reach Ukraine’s southern coast, Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk warned on January 9.
The Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers were damaged during a storm in the Kerch Strait on December 15. Each vessel carried 4,000 tons of fuel, which began leaking into the Black Sea. Pletenchuk said that the current direction indicates that the oil fuel may reach the coast of Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts.
**Environmental Concerns**
Greenpeace Ukraine warned that the spill could cause significant environmental damage and foul the shoreline if the fuel is driven ashore. The spokesperson noted that Russian civilian vessels continue to sail through the Kerch Strait, despite the risks, as oil exports are crucial for their economy.
The spill has already caused harm in Russia‘s Krasnodar Krai and occupied Crimea, with residents sharing footage of birds injured by the spill. This incident is a reminder of the massive environmental damage caused by Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, including the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam and widespread forest fires.
**Increased Risk**
The Kyiv School of Economics Institute warned in October that Russia’s “shadow fleet” of old and poorly insured tankers poses significant environmental risks. These uninsured and aging vessels increase the danger of oil spills, making incidents like this more likely to occur.
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