On January 4, 2025, the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol, located on the southwestern tip of the Crimean Peninsula, officially declared a state of emergency in response to potential environmental pollution risks caused by a recent severe oil spill incident in the Kerch Strait.

Sevastopol Mayor Razvozhayev provided an update to the public on the day the state of emergency was announced. He noted that while Sevastopol's main coastline has not yet suffered significant direct oil pollution, traces of oil have been detected in several surrounding areas, indicating that the spill has already impacted the environment. In light of this, the city government decided to activate a regional-level emergency response mechanism to swiftly and effectively address potential threats.

Previously, Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported on December 15, 2024, that two Russian oil tankers faced severe distress in the Kerch Strait due to adverse weather conditions, including strong winds and high waves. The vessels sustained damage and ran aground, resulting in a large-scale fuel spill that posed serious environmental risks to the surrounding waters.

To mitigate the pollution, Russian rescue teams promptly launched cleanup operations. After several days of continuous effort, as of January 4, 2025, over 86,000 tons of contaminated sediment had been successfully removed, effectively preventing further expansion of the spill. However, given the possibility of oil spreading to wider areas with ocean currents, the Sevastopol city government has decided to remain highly vigilant and continue monitoring and cleanup efforts.

The declaration of a state of emergency signals Sevastopol's commitment to implementing stricter measures to tackle the environmental challenges posed by the oil spill. The city government plans to strengthen coordination with Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and other relevant agencies to jointly develop and execute more effective pollution control and cleanup strategies. Meanwhile, citizens are urged to stay alert and avoid entering potentially contaminated waters or coming into contact with oil residues without official permission.

In the coming days and weeks, Sevastopol will closely monitor the spread of the oil and the progress of the cleanup operations, adjusting emergency measures as necessary. The city government has pledged to make every effort to safeguard the health and safety of its residents and protect the ecological environment of the surrounding seas.