Crimea officials declare emergency as oil spill reaches Sevastopol beaches

Officials in Crimea have declared a regional emergency as an oil spill from two damaged tankers has reached Sevastopol. The spill occurred nearly three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, about 250 kilometers away from the city. Oil has been found on four beaches, but local authorities claim there is no mass pollution. Cleanup efforts are ongoing, with over 5,000 workers involved in removing contaminated sand and soil. The spill has raised concerns, with Russian President Vladimir Putin labeling it an "ecological disaster." The Kerch Strait is a vital shipping route and has been a point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine since 2014.