In December 2024, two aging Russian oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, were damaged during a storm in the Kerch Strait, leading to a significant oil spill in the Black Sea. Approximately 2,400 metric tons of oil products leaked into the sea, causing extensive environmental damage.
The spill has contaminated over 50 kilometers of coastline, affecting areas such as Anapa and Crimea. Thousands of volunteers and emergency workers have been mobilized to clean the polluted beaches, collecting over 155,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil. Efforts to contain and clean up the spill are ongoing, with the formation of an emergency task force and continued monitoring of the affected areas.
The environmental impact has been severe, with reports of wildlife deaths, including dolphins and seabirds. The spill has also reached Ukrainian territories, including the Berdyansk Spit and Crimea’s Sevastopol, leading to regional emergencies, while it continues spreading.
This incident underscores the critical importance of the RESPONSE project, which aims to develop and validate innovative training programs for enhancing the preparedness of authorities involved in marine pollution response in the Black Sea Basin.
In light of recent events, the RESPONSE project’s mission to enhance marine pollution response capabilities is both pertinent and essential for safeguarding our marine ecosystems.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/black-sea-oil-spill-widens-russian-authorities-say-2025-01-10