MOSCOW, March 19. /TASS/. The oil tanker wreck in the Kerch Strait showed the drastic consequences of neglect for people, nature and environment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a board meeting of the Prosecutor General's Office.
"A petroleum products spill from distressed tankers in the Black Sea at the end of last year showed the dire consequences of neglect of safety instructions for people and nature, economy," he said.
Russians expect public prosecution bodies "to work more efficiently" in the area of environmental protection, Putin added. He also called for systemic efforts by the environmental prosecutor's office, removing regulatory faults together with other law enforcement forces, and taking measures for damages recovery in the event of violations.
On December 15, the Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 tankers were caught in a storm in the Kerch Strait area in the Black Sea. The Volgoneft-212 subsequently sank while the other ship ran aground. One sailor died, and the rest were evacuated. According to emergency services, the tankers were carrying about 9,200 metric tons of fuel oil. An oil spill occurred in the Black Sea as a result of the accident. According to the Russian Ministry of Transport, about 2,400 metric tons of oil products has leaked into the Black Sea.