Russia Mobilizes Emergency Task Force as Oil Spill Crisis Escalates in Kerch Strait

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An emergency task force has been deployed to Russia's southern Krasnodar region to address an ongoing oil spill in the Kerch Strait, which has continued to spread since it was first detected a month ago. The spill, originating from two storm-damaged tankers, has been described by President Vladimir Putin as “one of the most serious environmental challenges we have faced in recent years.” Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov reported that the most critical situation is near the port of Taman, where fuel oil is leaking from the damaged Volgoneft-239 tanker.

Since the initial spill, over 155,000 tons of contaminated soil and sand have been removed from the affected areas. Additionally, reports indicate that the oil has reached the Berdyansk Spit in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, contaminating 14.5 kilometers of shoreline. Russian-installed officials in Crimea have also declared a regional emergency due to oil sightings on the peninsula.

The Kerch Strait serves as a vital shipping route connecting the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea and has been a focal point of tension between Russia and Ukraine following Crimea’s annexation in 2014. Ukrainian officials have criticized Russia for its delayed response, arguing that the current actions are an inadequate admission of a growing environmental disaster.

As cleanup efforts continue, international observers are calling for increased scrutiny and potential sanctions against Russian shipping operations to prevent future spills.

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