In a subsequent report, TASS described the harm to the Volgoneft 212 as catastrophic: “In the circumstances of the storm, the bow of the tanker was torn off.”
Unverified footage on Telegram additionally seems to indicate one of many vessels damaged in half, with streaks of oil seen on the floor of the water. The incident occurred within the early hours of Sunday within the Kerch Strait waterway separating annexed Crimea and mainland Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a working group to be set as much as “manage rescue operations and cleanup works after the oil spill,” his press secretary Dmitry Peskov mentioned.
Two rescue tugboats and two helicopters have been dispatched. The Russian emergencies ministry mentioned one crew member had died.
Both vessels have a loading capability of about 4,200 metric tons of oil merchandise, in line with Reuters.
This story has been up to date.