Credit: Sergey Pivovarov/Reuters
Russian scientists have expressed serious concerns over the inadequacy of cleanup operations following a massive oil spill from two tankers in the Black Sea. They have criticized the lack of proper equipment and resources, calling the response insufficient for the scale of the disaster.
The oil spill occurred on December 15 when two Russian tankers, the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, were hit by a storm in the Kerch Strait. One vessel sank, while the other ran aground. The strait, which separates southern Russia from Crimea—a region annexed by Russia in 2014—witnessed a spill of approximately 40% of the 9,200 tonnes of fuel oil carried by the ships, according to Russian authorities.
President Vladimir Putin has described the incident as an “ecological disaster.” In response, thousands of volunteers were mobilized to clean oil-soaked beaches. However, Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, the head of the Water Problems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, criticized the lack of heavy machinery and proper tools during a recent news conference.
“There are no bulldozers, no trucks—practically no heavy machinery,” he stated. Volunteers are relying on shovels and flimsy plastic bags, which he described as “useless and prone to tearing.” The delays in collecting these bags risk allowing the oil to return to the sea during storms, he added.
Public criticism of Russian authorities is rare, but the scale of this ecological crisis has prompted outcry from experts. Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources reported on Monday that up to 200,000 tonnes of sand may be contaminated, with nearly 30,000 tonnes already removed. Krasnodar region governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed ongoing efforts but acknowledged the challenges.
Adding to the concern, Sergei Ostakh, a professor at the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, warned that the oil could soon reach the shores of Crimea. “No one should have illusions it will stay clean,” he cautioned, urging swift action.
The Delfa dolphin rescue center has reported the deaths of 21 dolphins in the affected area, although further testing is required to determine whether the spill was the cause.
The cleanup efforts are under increasing scrutiny, with experts calling for immediate improvements to mitigate the environmental damage in the Black Sea region
Source: The Guardian
