The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has only cemented the views of Russian officials that the Northern Sea Route is the future of global trade — a faster, cheaper alternative to traditional shipping lanes that’s now made viable by melting Arctic ice. 

But a recent oil spill in warmer, more accessible waters suggests that Moscow is not ready for the risks it is already taking. Indeed, a report Russia compiled last winter and submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) suggests that the country is in over its head when responding to even the most basic oil mishaps at sea. 

In December 2024, two oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, broke apart during a storm in the warm waters of the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea, spilling more than 3,000 tons of heavy fuel oil. The location matters. This was not the remote Arctic, but a relatively accessible maritime corridor near major ports, with rescue vessels, infrastructure and personnel nearby.

The response fell short. More than a year later, oil was still being found along the coastline.

Russian Oil Exports Fall by 1.75M Bpd as Drones Assaults Baltic Ports

According to the report to the IMO, Russia lacks a strategy for responding to heavy fuel oil spills in cold conditions. That admission alone should raise red flags for European policymakers, insurers and shipping companies increasingly drawn to Arctic routes. Even the report itself........

© The Moscow Times