The Kerch Strait, which separates occupied Crimea from Russia's Krasnodar Territory, continues to grapple with a massive oil spill that occurred a month ago during a storm. In response to the growing ecological crisis, an emergency task force led by Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov was sent to the area, BTA reported.
The group was formed after a call from President Vladimir Putin to step up efforts to contain the pollution.
The spill, caused by an accident involving two tankers, was called by Putin “one of the most serious environmental challenges in recent years“. Efforts to contain it continue in the hope of minimizing environmental damage.
According to the Emergencies Ministry, over 155,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil have already been collected. Despite the efforts, the pollution continues to spread, reaching various regions around the strait.
Environmental consequences and spread of the fuel oil
The toxic spill has already reached the shores of the Berdyansk Spit, which is located about 145 km north of the Kerch Strait, and according to the Moscow-appointed governor of the occupied part of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, the contaminated area there is 14.5 km long.
A regional state of emergency was declared in the occupied Crimea last weekend after the fuel oil reached the shores of Sevastopol, the largest city on the peninsula, located about 250 km from the source of the pollution.
Prospects for managing the crisis
A month after the environmental disaster, active operations are still underway to contain the spill, but the effects of the pollution are spreading over vast areas. According to observers, the complexity of the crisis highlights the need for better coordination and international cooperation in dealing with such disasters.