State of Emergency Declared in Krasnodar Oil Spill

Authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region have declared a region-wide emergency due to an ongoing oil spill caused by two tankers that were damaged in a storm on December 15. Approximately 3,700 tons of heavy fuel oil have polluted around 55 kilometers of coastline, affecting beaches in popular resort areas like Anapa and harming marine life including seabirds, dolphins, and porpoises. Governor Veniamin Kondratiev elevated the emergency status from municipal to regional after cleanup efforts by over 10,000 workers stalled, with further investigations into potential leaks from the sunken Volgoneft-239 planned. Initial assessments indicated that most oil would settle at the seabed, but warmer temperatures have caused it to rise and wash ashore. The situation has drawn criticism regarding the handling of the aging vessels involved, and federal assistance may be requested as efforts continue. Additionally, Russian investigators have launched a criminal probe into alleged failures in the cleanup response.