This is reported by the pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel "Crimean Wind".
On November 17, the tanker departed from Rostov-on-Don, and the following day it anchored in the Sea of Azov for inspection by border guards. After that, the crew received permission to pass through the Kerch Strait to unload fuel oil, but this plan could not be executed. Starting from November 26, the shipowner requested permission to move to a port on the Don River, but delays and stormy conditions complicated the situation.
In early the following month, the tanker made its way to the southern part of the Kerch Strait, where it remained anchored until December 12. When a storm warning was issued on December 14, the vessel attempted to seek shelter near Cape Takil, but due to port congestion, it could not anchor. On the morning of December 15, the crew began checking the ship's watertight integrity, monitored the condition of all compartments, and prepared for the storm. However, at 08:40, the tanker broke in two near the cargo tanks, marking a tragic event.
It is worth noting that the first instances of fuel oil pollution in the Odessa region have already been recorded by ecologists.
We also wrote about the impact on the Black Sea ecosystem following the fuel oil spill.