MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. Rescuers have completed the evacuation of the crew of the Volgoneft 239 tanker that ran aground in the Kerch Strait near Crimea, the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry reported.

"The rescue operation of the crew of the Volgoneft 239 tanker has been completed. All 14 crew members were successfully evacuated to land," the press service said.

Emergency services said earlier that the lives of the crew members were not in danger.

On December 15, the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers wrecked. The forebody of the Volgoneft 212 tanker was torn off, and the vessel ran aground. The crew was evacuated. One of the 13 crew members died.

The Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport reported that an oil spill had occurred in the Black Sea as a result of the accident. The Investigative Committee has opened two criminal cases following the accident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has heard reports and instructed to organize rescue operations in the Kerch Strait. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has set up a working group to eliminate the consequences of the incident.