Oil tanker in distress: Weather vagaries endanger Russian transport ship

A Russian cargo ship transporting oil products has gone adrift in the Kerch Strait due to adverse weather conditions and has requested assistance. According to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, 13 people were on board the affected ship, the Volgoneft 212. To bring the situation under control, a Mi-8 helicopter and a rescue tug were dispatched. It is currently being examined whether there has been an oil spill, the ministry further announced. According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, the Volgoneft 212 was carrying around 4,300 tons of fuel oil. An unverified video published on the platform Telegram already showed water pollution and the partially sunken ship.