Russian Tankers Sink in Kerch Strait After Violating Safety and Navigation Rules

Two Russian tankers, that sunk near the Kerch Strait on December 15, went to sea in violation of navigation regulations, according to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk on December 16.

“The weather conditions at sea at that time were unsuitable for open-water navigation. Once again, the Russians broke every rule they could,” Pletenchuk stated.

Both tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 were aged over 50 years old and may have been held at port longer than planned, but Pletenchuk emphasized that their captain should have accounted for the risks. The ongoing storm season, expected to last until mid-spring, further complicates efforts to retrieve the vessels or investigate the incident.

“These stormy conditions not only make it harder to recover the tankers but also impede the movement of Russian Black Sea Fleet warships and the use of cruise missiles,” he added.

The Ukrainian Navy spokesperson criticized Russia for prioritizing the transport of oil and fuel for its army over compliance with safety protocols for civilian shipping.

He highlighted repeated violations, including ignoring coastal warnings and frequently disabling the ships’ automatic identification systems (AIS).

One of the tankers that sunk in the Kerch Strait had reportedly disabled its AIS system multiple times.

Furthermore, the Kerch Strait has been officially closed to civilian navigation by Ukraine for over a year. Despite this, Russia continues to disregard the closure, risking further maritime accidents.

Earlier, Greenpeace sounded an alarm about the environmental risks posed by the recent oil spill in the Kerch Strait, warning of a potential ecological catastrophe.