Environmental disaster looms as tanker leaks off Oman

AI Summary

An alleged tanker from Russia's shadow fleet is leaking oil off the coast of Oman near a nature reserve, sparking concerns over environmental disaster. The tanker, rocked by explosions of unclear cause, highlights risks from Russia's use of poorly maintained ships to evade Western sanctions following the Ukraine invasion.

Oman is facing an impending environmental catastrophe as an alleged Russian shadow fleet tanker leaks oil across hundreds of square kilometres near a nature reserve, NGOs warn. The ship was rocked by explosions, a maritime security firm told AFP, but the cause of the blasts is unclear. Russia has built up a ghost fleet of old ships with opaque ownership to get around Western sanctions since its 2022 Ukraine invasion, and experts have said the vessels' poor condition increases the risk of oil spills.