Mishustin created a working group to eliminate the consequences of the emergency in the Kerch Strait

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has created a working group to coordinate work to eliminate the consequences of the emergency with tankers in the Kerch Strait. This was announced by the Russian government on December 15.

"It will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev," - stated in the Telegram-channel of the Cabinet.

The commission will include Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, head of Rosmorrechflot Andrey Tarasenko, head of Rostransnadzor Viktor Basargin, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the administration of the Krasnodar region.

Breaking storm: two tankers in distress off the coast of Kerch

The powerful elements snapped both vessels in half

It became known earlier in the day that the tanker "Volgoneft-212" was in distress due to bad weather in the Kerch Strait. In that area there were strong squally winds and sea excitement up to 7 points. Some time later it became known about the damage of the second tanker. In the main Directorate (GU) of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol reported that more than 50 people and 11 units of equipment are involved in the elimination of the incident.

Later in the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia specified that the "Volgoneft-212" ran aground, and the "Volgoneft-239" after the damage suffered went adrift. During the rescue operation 13 people were evacuated from the first vessel, one of them died. Two criminal cases were opened over the incident, one of which was reclassified to a more serious offense.