Fuel oil from Russian tankers washes up on coast of occupied Abkhazia

According to the environmental monitoring lab, a significant excess of petroleum products has been recorded in the waters of the Black Sea.

Ukraine's Center recalled that the accident occurred back in December of last year, but the pollution has not stopped since. Russian authorities failed to promptly contain the ecological disaster, allowing the fuel oil to spread along hundreds of kilometers of coastline. The tanker wreckage remains on the seafloor, and fuel leakage continues.

"Seven months after the accident, the problem is simply being ignored. Authorities have even stopped pretending to clean up the aftermath: no active work is being carried out, and beaches contaminated with fuel oil are full of tourists," the statement says.

Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation added that once again, Russia is showing indifference to the environment and public health, prioritizing profits from illegal oil trade - even at the cost of an environmental disaster.

Fuel oil spill in Kerch Strait

In mid-December 2024, two Russian tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, were damaged in a severe storm in the Kerch Strait.

In addition, another tanker was reported to sustain damage near the Kavkaz port, releasing at least 3,000 tons of fuel oil into the sea.

Initially, oil slicks drifted toward the Russian coastline, but over time they began reaching the shores of occupied Ukrainian territories.

The fuel oil eventually reached the Ukrainian coast of the Sea of Azov. Satellite images captured an oil slick near the occupied Berdiansk.

Oil slicks also reached the shores of the Odesa region. In particular, pollution was detected near the Katranka recreational area.

For more details, read our article on the topic.