The Black Sea has recently faced a devastating environmental disaster due to an oil spill from Russian tankers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the situation and stated that current efforts to address the crisis are insufficient, writes Hotnews.
The spill has affected a large portion of the Black Sea, causing significant harm to the ecosystem, including beaches, air quality, and wildlife.
During a meeting with government officials, Putin expressed concern that not enough has been done to reduce the damage from the spill.
He mentioned that initial plans had the cleanup efforts managed at a regional level. However, after further assessment, the government decided the matter needed federal-level intervention.
Eventually, the need to declare a federal emergency was recognized, and efforts began to address the issue.
Putin emphasized the importance of creating an operational headquarters on-site, with the involvement of relevant federal departments.
He instructed ministers to organize their contributions and take comprehensive measures to handle both the economic and environmental consequences of the disaster.
His goal is to stop the leakage of oil from sunken ships and minimize any further harm.
The oil spill occurred on December 15 when a severe storm damaged two Russian tankers. One tanker broke apart, and the other ran aground.
Both ships were old, raising concerns about their safety. The disaster has led to serious contamination of the Black Sea, with around 2.4 thousand tons of petroleum products entering the water.
The Russian government declared a federal state of emergency on December 26, but there has been little progress in cleaning the affected areas.
The spill has become one of the worst environmental catastrophes in the region in recent years, and urgent action is needed to mitigate the damage caused to the environment and surrounding communities.
