**Oil Spill in Kerch Strait: Russia Claims Less Oil Leaked**
Russia’s Transport Ministry said on January 2 that the amount of oil spilled by two tankers in the Kerch Strait is “significantly less than initially thought”. The ministry claimed that only about 2,400 metric tons of oil had leaked into the Black Sea.
**Two Tankers Damaged**
On December 15, two Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, were damaged in a storm. Both vessels were carrying 9,200 tons of fuel. The leak began on December 15 and continued until further notice.
**Initial Estimate Much Higher**
Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti initially reported that around 3,700 tons of low-grade fuel oil had spilled into the Kerch Strait. This led Russia to declare a federal state of emergency in response to the spill.
**Environmental Concerns Raised**
A Russian scientist, Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, warned on December 25 that about 200,000 tons of soil along the Black Sea coast have been contaminated. Greenpeace Ukraine also raised concerns about “significant” environmental damage caused by the destruction of the tankers.
**Russia’s Transport Ministry Disputes Claims**
On January 2, Russia’s Transport Ministry disputed these claims, saying that only about 2,400 metric tons of oil had spilled into the sea. The ministry cited a report from one of the tanker captains as evidence. However, The Kyiv Independent cannot verify these claims.
**Kerch Strait and Environmental Concerns**
The Kerch Strait separates mainland Russia from Russian-occupied Crimea. In October, the Kyiv School of Economics Institute warned that Russia’s “shadow fleet” of old and poorly insured tankers pose significant environmental risks.
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