The cargo ship Volgoneft 212, carrying oil products, is in distress in the Kerch Strait.
There are 13 crew members on board who have requested assistance.
The tanker was damaged and is in distress in the Kerch Strait due to bad weather.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry's message on its Telegram channel said that the ship requested assistance due to difficult weather conditions.
The rescue tugboat Mercury was sent from Kerch to rescue the crew. An Mi-8 helicopter with a rescue team then flew to the disaster area.
The vessel apparently contains petroleum products, information about the spill of which is being clarified.
The vessel requested assistance eight kilometers from the shore. It is believed that there may be more than 4 tons of fuel oil on board.
Information about the situation is being clarified due to bad weather conditions and rough seas.
