Russia Facing Environmental Catastrophe After Oil Spill
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Russia Facing Environmental Catastrophe After Oil Spill
A devastating oil spill in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from annexed Crimea, has sparked a major environmental disaster. Satellite images show a massive oil slick spreading across the strait after two oil tankers were damaged in bad weather on December 15.
Up to 5,000 tonnes of oil have leaked into the sea, with reports suggesting the spill has spread across the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Russian scientists have called it the country’s worst environmental catastrophe of the 21st century.
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The spill is estimated to be more than twice the size of a similar disaster in the strait in 2007. Ukraine’s ministry of ecology estimates the cleanup could cost Russia up to $14 billion.
Experts warn the long-term consequences of the spill may be severe, with oil potentially reaching Ukraine’s coast and even affecting neighboring countries. The spill has already impacted marine life, with footage showing birds covered in oil and reports of dead dolphins.
Russian officials say around 6,000 birds have been delivered to rehabilitation centers, but the survival rate is low. Greenpeace estimates the final number of dead birds could be in the thousands.
The incident has raised questions about the seaworthiness of the vessels, which are over 50 years old. The captains of both tankers have been arrested, and criminal investigations have been opened.
The spill’s impact may not be limited to Russia, with experts warning of long-term consequences for Ukraine’s occupied territories and potentially other countries.
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