Storm Hits Russian Tankers: Ukraine Blames Russia for Recklessness

In a stormy sea drama, two old Russian tankers faced trouble in the Kerch Strait, a waterway between Russia and Crimea. Ukraine's navy spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, accused Russia of breaking safety rules. He said, "It's like going to sea in a storm with old ships. " One tanker, Volgoneft-212, split in half due to a giant wave. Tragically, one crew member died, and 11 were hospitalized. The tanker was carrying 4, 300 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, called mazut. If it leaks, it could harm the already war-struck Black Sea environment. Meanwhile, another tanker, Volgoneft 239, was drifting after damage. It later ran aground near the port of Taman. Rescue efforts were paused due to bad weather, but the crew was said to be safe. Russian President Vladimir Putin set up a team to handle the situation and minimize fuel spill impacts. In other news, Ukraine's SBU security service claimed to have damaged a fuel train heading to Russian troops. They said a sabotage operation halted the train, and US-supplied Himars missiles hit the site. However, this couldn't be verified independently. On the eastern front, Russia claimed to have captured villages near Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. They said troops advanced toward these supply hubs and industrial towns in Donetsk.