A Russian tanker, the Volgoneft-212, carrying more than 4,000 tonnes of low-grade heavy fuel oil (mazut), has sunk in the Black Sea amid stormy conditions, 5 miles from the Kerch Strait near occupied Crimea. The 136-meter vessel snapped in half after being hit by a large wave.
Russian media reported that at least one person was killed among the 15 crew members on board. Russian investigators have opened two criminal cases to examine potential safety violations.
A second ship, the Volgoneft-239, also got into trouble in the same area, initially reported as sinking but later found to have run aground 80 meters from shore near the port of Taman. The emergency ministry reported that 14 crew members are stranded on board, with rescue operations suspended due to bad weather. The ships’ mishaps raise concerns about potential environmental damage in the region.