Ukraine's Navy explains Russian tanker disaster in Kerch Strait
Photo: Dmytro Pletenchuk, Spokesperson of the Ukrainian Navy (Facebook)
Russian oil tankers began sinking near the Kerch Strait on December 15. They set out to sea without complying with navigation requirements, the Ukrainian media Suspilne reports, citing Dmytro Pletenchuk, Spokesperson of the Ukrainian Navy.
"The weather conditions at that time in the sea were not suitable for being in open waters... As always, the Russians violated everything they could," the Ukrainian spokesperson said.
According to Pletenchuk, the storm season is currently ongoing in the Black and Azov Seas and will likely last until mid-spring. This makes it difficult to investigate the incident's circumstances, and it will be challenging for the Russians to recover the tankers from the water.
The Ukrainian Navy's spokesperson also noted that such weather conditions complicate the operations of Russia's Black Sea Fleet combat ships, including their ability to launch cruise missiles.
Pletenchuk pointed out that the tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 are over 50 years old.
"For them, transporting Russian oil or other fuel and lubricants is more important than adhering to the safety requirements of civilian navigation," the Ukrainian spokesperson emphasized.
Background
As recently reported, two Russian tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank in the Kerch Strait. A severe storm caused the accident.
However, this is not Russia's first time lost a vessel.
Earlier, in March, a Russian fishing vessel, Kapitan Lobanov, caught fire and later sank.
