The Russian shadow fleet tanker Caroline Bezengi is spilling oil in a marine conservation area off the coast of Oman.
The Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker, is currently spilling oil in a marine conservation area off the coast of Oman. Satellite imagery from July 2 to July 13 confirms the spill in a bay southwest of Al-Qibliyah island. The vessel, which loaded oil at the port of Novorossiysk, last transmitted its position on June 11. The incident highlights the environmental risks associated with the aging vessels Russia uses to bypass international sanctions. While the exact cause of the leak is unconfirmed, maritime sources suggest the tanker experienced operational difficulties on June 8. This spill stands in contrast to Ukraine’s "Operation Molochka," which aims to disable Russia's shadow fleet in the Black and Azov Seas. USF Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi noted that the operation seeks to paralyze logistics by disabling propulsion and navigation systems without sinking the ships. By keeping the vessels afloat, Ukraine aims to avoid the type of ecological damage currently observed in the Gulf region.