The resort season in Anapa and the Temryuk region of Krasnodar Krai is set to commence, yet it comes with significant restrictions due to ongoing environmental concerns. According to Anna Popova, the head of Rospotrebnadzor, 141 beaches in Anapa and 9 in Temryuk do not currently meet the necessary pollution and sanitary standards, rendering them unsuitable for public use this summer.
As of April 18, 2025, Popova stated, "The beaches cannot be used for summer health campaigns or recreational purposes." However, she reassured that the quality of drinking water, food products, and air in the area meets all required health standards. "Recreation areas can be used without the use of beaches and sea water," she added, indicating that visitors can still enjoy the region's natural beauty without swimming.
The situation has been exacerbated by recent discoveries of new oil spills along the Anapa coastline. The Operational Headquarters of Krasnodar Territory reported that on the same day, new oil spills were identified in a section of the Anapa coast, particularly between the village of Vityazevo and the village of Blagoveshchenskaya. "Representatives of the Labinsk region reported on significant oil spills. A team is working on one of the sections to remove these new oil spills first, while other teams will continue the delicate cleaning of the beaches, sifting through the sand," the headquarters noted.
This environmental crisis traces back to a catastrophic incident on December 15, 2024, when two tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, sank in the Kerch Strait, resulting in an oil spill that released more than 5,000 tons of oil into the sea. Of this, approximately 2,400 tons have been recovered, but the ecological impact has been severe, particularly along the coasts of Anapa and Temryuk, where nearly 200,000 tons of contaminated sand have been removed from a 63-kilometer stretch.
Popova emphasized that all 150 beaches allocated for the resort season had been inspected, revealing deviations from safety norms across the board: "All resort beaches in Anapa and Temryuk region affected by the oil spill showed significant pollution levels." As a result, the beaches will remain closed for swimming and recreational activities.
Despite these challenges, the resort season in the broader Krasnodar Territory, including Crimea, is set to proceed as planned, albeit with the same restrictions on beach use. Vitaly Savelyev, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the crisis management team, confirmed to the President on April 14 that while the situation is serious, plans for the tourism season remain intact.
While local authorities are promoting the resort season, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Hotel owners in Anapa have reported a 20-30% drop in accommodation prices for June, as prospective tourists are deterred by the pollution crisis. The financial implications are significant, with Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrushev stating that many camps and sanatoriums are facing severe financial difficulties due to mass cancellations of children's holiday trips. "Sales have fallen sharply, and colleagues have run into a shortage of working capital. More than 500 million rubles have been returned to customers by large organizations for children's recreation and health improvement," he added.
Environmentalists have criticized the authorities for downplaying the severity of the situation. Ecologist Evgeny Vitishko expressed concern that the government is not taking the necessary steps to address the pollution crisis adequately. "The officials are not worried about the real state of affairs," he stated, highlighting the gap between public statements and the environmental reality.
The presence of oil products has been documented not only on the beaches of Anapa but also along the Temryuk region and the Azov Sea coast in the Slavyansk region. The ongoing cleanup efforts are hampered by the continuous discovery of new oil spills, raising questions about the effectiveness of the response measures taken by local authorities.
In light of these challenges, Rospotrebnadzor has committed to ongoing research and monitoring of the beach conditions in the affected areas. Popova assured that the department will respond appropriately should the situation improve. "Our efforts are aimed at preserving and improving the health of citizens of the Russian Federation and our guests. Based on these principles, we conduct our activities and make decisions," she said.
As the summer approaches, the tourism sector in Krasnodar Krai faces a critical juncture. The dual challenges of environmental degradation and economic strain threaten to undermine the region's reputation as a premier resort destination. Authorities are tasked with balancing public health concerns against the need to support the local economy, a tightrope walk that will require careful management and transparent communication with both residents and tourists alike.
With the resort season now officially underway, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of visitors while addressing the pressing environmental issues that have cast a shadow over this popular vacation spot. The actions taken in the coming weeks will be pivotal in determining the long-term viability of tourism in Anapa and the surrounding regions.
