An oil spill has contaminated "tens of kilometres" of the Russian Black Sea coast following severe storm damage to two aging oil tankers. The Volgoneft 212 split in half, and the Volgoneft 239 ran aground near the port of Taman, with both vessels carrying a combined 9,200 metric tons of oil products. A third tanker, Volgoneft 109, issued a distress signal but remains intact, with no reported spillage. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in several coastal areas, and oil has been observed along beaches in the Temryuk and Anapa districts. The spill threatens local wildlife, including migrating dolphins, and has the potential to become a major environmental disaster. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, but the full extent of the spill remains unclear.

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Source: Black Sea oil spill worsens as third Russian tanker sends distress call | Reuters