Russia's militarization of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov has caused an ecological disaster. According to Greenpeace, on Sunday, two tankers in the Kerch Strait caused thousands of tons of fuel oil to be released into the water.

Another tanker was also in distress after sustaining damage, Russian officials said. At least one person was killed.

A Russian tanker has sunk in the Kerch Strait during a violent Black Sea storm, killing one seafarer and causing an oil spill. Russian news agency Ria Novosti, citing official sources, said a second vessel in distress, the Volgoneft 239, was drifting and ran aground about 80 metres from the shore near the port of Taman.