Two Russian Oil Tankers Wrecked In Black Sea Amid Heavy Storm.
Two Russian oil tankers have been severely damaged in the Black Sea, resulting in an oil spill and the death of at least one crew member, Russian authorities have confirmed.
The incident occurred in the Kerch Strait, a key waterway separating Russia from Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. Footage released by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office showed one of the tankers split in half and sinking during a severe storm, with visible streaks of oil spreading across the water.
Both tankers had a total of 29 crew members on board at the time. Reports indicate that the second vessel, although heavily damaged, began to drift following the incident.
The cause of the damage has not yet been fully determined, but adverse weather conditions appear to have played a significant role.
The oil spill raises further environmental concerns for the Black Sea, a region already vulnerable to ecological degradation. Emergency teams are currently assessing the scale of the pollution and coordinating clean-up operations where possible.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the full extent of the damage and identify any additional safety measures needed for maritime operations in the region.