CNN —Two Russian tankers carrying thousands of tons of fuel were badly damaged in stormy weather near the Black Sea over the weekend, leading to an oil spill, according to Russian state media. The tankers were carrying more than 9,000 tons of oil, emergency services reported, according to TASS. Some of this oil spilled into the Kerch Strait, which specialists were preparing to clean up, it said. The region suffered a similar oil spill in November 2007, when five ships sank in storms in the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. In that incident, strong winds and high surf caused the Volgoneft 139 to split in two, spilling up 560,000 gallons, or approximately 1,000 tons, of fuel oil.

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Persons: Paul Johnston Organizations: CNN, Russian Telegram, TASS, Greenpeace, Greenpeace Research Laboratories Locations: Kerch, Russia, Crimea, Russian, Greenpeace Ukraine, Azov