As part of her official mission, Permanent Representative of Ukraine Olha Kuryshko addressed the United Nations Ocean Conference, focusing on the large-scale and long-term environmental consequences of the war launched by the Russian Federation, and the transnational dimension of the resulting ecological damage. Olha Kuryshko emphasized that the aggression by the Russian Federation is no longer solely a Ukrainian issue, as its consequences are affecting waters beyond Ukraine’s borders.

“A striking example of the catastrophic consequences of the Russian government’s irresponsible occupation policies and the use of the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ is the incident involving Russian tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239. As a result of this accident, a significant amount of heavy fuel oil was released into the Black Sea and the Kerch Strait, leading to contamination of marine waters and posing a serious threat to marine ecosystems, coastal areas, and biodiversity,” she noted.

Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko noted that the full scale of the oil spill remains unknown due to the lack of an objective, independent assessment. However, preliminary estimates of over 4,000 tons suggest it may be the largest oil spill in the history of the Black Sea region. Parts of both vessels remain submerged in the Black Sea and pose a continued risk of additional oil leakage.

She also reminded participants that this year’s incident is not the first example of the Russian Federation’s irresponsible maritime practices. A similar disaster occurred in 2007, when four Russian vessels ignored navigational safety warnings, entered the sea during a severe storm, and were wrecked in the Kerch Strait. As a result of the Volgoneft-139 tanker accident, approximately 2,000 tons of oil products were released into the sea, causing significant environmental damage.

“We are also witnessing the Russian Federation’s use of a number of outdated tankers in the Baltic Sea to transport oil in circumvention of international sanctions. This so-called ‘shadow fleet,’ which helps finance the war against Ukraine, poses the risk of an even greater environmental disaster in the seas surrounding Europe,” emphasized Olha Kuryshko.

In conclusion, the Permanent Representative reminded participants that the Russian Federation’s use of the Crimean Peninsula as a military base presents a threat not only to Ukraine, but to other countries as well. The environmental consequences of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine are long-lasting, and restoring affected ecosystems will require coordinated international cooperation.

“Today, part of Ukraine’s territory remains under Russian occupation. But no disaster is ever confined to the place where it occurs. A catastrophe in one region of the planet affects the environment globally,” concluded Olha Kuryshko.