Fuel from sunken Russian tankers could reach Odesa and Mykolaiv, according to Pletenchuk.

The oil spilled as a result of the accidents involving the Russian tankers "Volgoneft-212" and "Volgoneft-239" in the Black Sea may reach the shores of Odesa and Mykolaiv.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported during a television broadcast by the spokesperson for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Captain 3rd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk.

"Unfortunately, it is quite likely that the oil (mazut - ed.) may reach our Odesa and Mykolaiv coasts. There is such a possibility," Pletenchuk noted.

He emphasized that Russia continues to conduct civilian shipping through the Kerch Strait despite Ukraine officially closing it.

“They continue to pass through the Kerch Strait despite it being officially closed by Ukraine... Consequently, they keep transshipping; in reality, their options are limited, and they clearly understand that without oil exports and incoming revenues, it will be even harder for them to conduct this war,” Pletenchuk added.

As reported, on December 15, two Russian oil tankers, “Volgoneft-212” and “Volgoneft-239,” sank in the Kerch Strait. As a result, over 4,000 tons of mazut spilled into the Black Sea.

In the temporarily occupied Sevastopol, over 90 tons of soil contaminated with mazut were removed following the accident involving the two Russian oil tankers in the Kerch Strait.