Volunteers complained about a shortage of workers to clean up fuel oil in Kuban.

Only two volunteer headquarters remain on the entire coast of the Temryuk district, which are trying to clean up the massive fuel oil deposits. However, without government support and an influx of new volunteers, the task is becoming impossible, the "Dolphins" headquarters reported.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, over the next two years, Kuban authorities have planned to transfer more than 439 million rubles to the budgets of Anapa and the Temryuk district for the restoration of beaches after fuel oil spills.

Two active teams remain on the shore: the "Dolphins" team (5-7 people) and the "Nets, Sito, Lopata" team on the spit (10-15 on rotation), volunteers from the "Dolphin" team reported on their Telegram channel.

"We receive real assistance from Kuban SPAS, especially from the Temryuk detachment on duty – they are there when the going gets tough. During large-scale spills, up to 20 municipal volunteers can be dispatched, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations is formally present," the report states.

According to volunteers, fresh fuel oil spills continue, and they are their first priority. There are also old spills on Belaya Gora, in the Kerch Strait, and the Bugayskaya Spit, stretching from 500 meters to 14 kilometers. "We're short-handed. Sometimes some are tired, some don't think it's worthwhile, and some just don't come anymore. But the fuel oil remains, and we're left to deal with it alone," the volunteers complained.

The activists also stated that they had approached the Federal Headquarters of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations with a request to help clean up the fuel oil spill at Belaya Gora, but were refused on the grounds that the volume was "not critical" and that bringing in additional resources was "inappropriate."

"An appeal to volunteers across Russia: do we mobilize and stay and fight, or do we agree that fighting is inadvisable at this stage and leave?" the headquarters' Telegram channel stated.

Commentators debated the need for volunteers to continue their work.

The extent of fuel oil pollution in southern Russia

The post, published on the Dolphins headquarters' Telegram channel, had garnered more than 10,000 views and 38 comments by 10:10 p.m. Moscow time.

"The main and most critical question is money - who's paying for it? If there's government funding, well, theoretically, caring people will come, but no, you can't earn much with Don Quixotes... If the authorities continue to pretend everything's fine, then we could literally end up outside the law, with all the ensuing consequences," wrote user Olga Che).

"We'll stay and keep working!" TSS supported the volunteers.

"The question is, it's kind of tricky. If we stay, then who will go? Those who've been there many times are already financially and mentally exhausted, and as I understand it, most aren't ready to go again. And those who haven't been there before - they won't go. And if we close, then it's on us, "Those who voted bear full responsibility. We voted to close the headquarters, and responsibility for the death of living beings lies with us. Well, I don't like the way the issue is being put," Olesya Poshvina expressed doubt.

"I think it's time to end this. Donate the remaining food to people in need and clear out tons of warehouses. We have plenty of orphanages and nursing homes, where it's also important to help now. People are working, helping where they can. Many have visited more than once, and I am among them. But life goes on. People will be united by only one thing - the scale of the new tragedy. Just like we all came in December - January," said Alexandra Karel.

"The headquarters is, of course, still needed, so there's still work to do. Everyone has many life circumstances, but visiting is possible," she expressed her opinion. Olga Alexandrova.

Authorities reported on the continuation of beach cleanups

Today, the Krasnodar Krai task force reported on the mechanized cleanup of the coastline.

"Mechanized cleanup of the coastline continues in Anapa. The main beach areas from Zhemchuzhina-2 to the Grand Hotel have already been cleared, and new protective embankments have been installed there. Work on the coast in the village of Blagoveshchenskaya will begin soon. To date, 51 beach areas have been cleared, with the main beach bodies already processed. In the near future, weather permitting, equipment will move on to section 18 and begin work on six sections in the area of the village of Blagoveshchenskaya," the task force said in a statement.

As a reminder, on December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil The tankers sank in the Kerch Strait. A crew member of one of the tankers died as a result. Additionally, an oil spill occurred, leading to catastrophic environmental consequences, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Fuel Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait".

Materials on the consequences of the fuel oil spill have been collected by the Caucasian Knot on the page "Eco-disaster in Kuban".