Volunteers explain the decline in interest in cleaning up fuel oil off the Kuban coast.

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The main volunteer effort was initially focused on cleaning up fuel oil along the coast of Anapa. Fewer people made it to the Temryuk district, where petroleum products are still abundant. Furthermore, government assistance to volunteers has sharply decreased, which explains the decline in the number of people willing to participate in the cleanup.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," at the end of November 2025, volunteers from the "Dolphins" headquarters reported that only a few of them remained and needed help in eliminating the consequences of the fuel oil spill.

Volunteers from the "Dolphins" headquarters commented on the sharp decline in the number of those who came to clean up the consequences of the fuel oil spill. They admit that they could use more manpower, according to "Kedr Media"*.

According to volunteer Valery, "the wow effect has passed; the image of black shores completely covered in fuel oil is no longer there." He also noted that the length of coastline that has yet to be cleared of "old" pollution is large, but this is despite the fact that there are no new emissions.

Anapa resident Gleb Gilev, who spent 100 days cleaning the coastline of fuel oil, noted that fewer volunteers reached the Temryuk district, where fuel oil remains abundant, than Anapa. "Anapa is simply well-known, so everyone went to save the resort town," he noted.

Furthermore, according to Gilev, people's motivation has significantly decreased. "The state support for volunteers that some headquarters initially had, such as three meals a day and accommodation, is no longer there. Some even had their travel expenses paid, were given promo codes for taxis, and were provided with good equipment," he said.

A volunteer noted that Anapa's beaches were cleaned "on an industrial scale" this summer and "really well," while the Temryuk district was forgotten.

Elena Leitan, head of the Anapa volunteer association TOS No. 1 "Mayak," recalled that the Temryuk district doesn't have as many residents as Anapa. "And the organization of people and headquarters in Anapa, Vityazevo, and nearby areas was faster; business is more active here," she noted.

As a reminder, on December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. A crew member of one of the tankers died as a result. In addition, 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".