MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered to set up a working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev to organize rescue efforts after the incident with two oil tankers in the Kerch Strait, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov told TASS.

"President Putin heard reports by Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev, and Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov after two oil tankers ran aground," he said. "The president issues relevant instructions on the organization of rescue efforts."

"He also ordered to set up a governmental working group that will include the above mentioned cabinet members and led by Deputy Prime Minister Davelyev. The working group will organize rescue operations and works cleanup works after the oil spill," he added.

According to earlier reports, two oil tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, were damaged in a storm in the Kerch Strain in the Black Sea. One vessel ran aground, its crew was evacuated. One of the 13 crew members died. The damage caused an oil spill emergency. Two criminal probes have been launched.