Limassol smells like oil. Literally. For several weeks now, residents and tourists have been complaining about black spots on their skin after swimming, sticky dirt on the sand, and a suspiciously shiny film on the water. But it was not until July 12 that the Cypriot media finally took notice of what was happening — and only after posts on social media. People posted photos of dirty feet, children’s skin, and sand stained with fuel oil.
«We went swimming in Poseidonia, and now our whole bodies are covered in oil. It’s a nightmare,» said a local resident, posting a photo of a baby with black marks on its feet. The areas of Poseidonia and Armonia were the worst affected, but incidents have been reported all along the coast. People are outraged and demanding explanations. However, the authorities are only saying: «We are investigating the source of the pollution.»
But everyone knows that this is not an isolated case of industrial accident. It is the result of a systematic operation that has been going on for a long time — the transfer of oil from Russian tankers to circumvent sanctions right off the coast of Limassol.
In March this year, the international Center «Dossier» published an investigation entitled «The Oil Trail near Cyprus,» which describes in detail the activities of the Russian shadow fleet off the coast of Cyprus.
Under sanctions and with fake documents, these ships transfer oil from ship to ship near the coast of Limassol. These extremely complex and dangerous operations are always accompanied by oil spills that pollute the sea and the coast.
The beaches that Cyprus was proud of are now polluted with Russian oil. The Mediterranean Sea has become unsuitable for swimming due to Russian oil spilled on its surface.
At the same time, according to objective monitoring data, tugboats from the port of Limassol are servicing these vessels. According to as yet unconfirmed information, some Cypriot companies are purchasing oil from these tankers in circumvention of sanctions.
Today, three pairs of tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet are drifting side by side off the coast of Limassol: Palermo and Eldia, Okyroe and Ankara, Aquadisiac and Leo II.
They are transferring Russian oil. This scene can be observed even without binoculars from coastal cafes and beaches.
What we are witnessing off the coast of Cyprus is the beginning of an environmental disaster that is inevitable unless the Russians are driven away from the island’s shores. An environmental disaster will lead to an economic disaster, as the island’s economy is focused on tourism, especially beach holidays.
The already polluted beaches are a fatal blow to the island’s reputation. This is an act of environmental terrorism, backed by Russia.
Everyone knows everything. Everyone sees everything. But the authorities continue to «investigate» without naming those responsible. Meanwhile, Russia is killing this wonderful island with its magnificent beaches, as it always does to everyone it can reach.
If the culprit is not openly named, it will be impossible to stop the crime, and the pollution will continue. Tomorrow. Today. Right now.
In the polluted waters, there are fish farms where sea bream and sea bass are raised. It is reasonable to assume that soon the fish will smell like Tyumen/Yamal oil. In principle, this is the usual smell for Russians, but it is completely unacceptable for normal people.
It must be especially pleasant for Russian-speaking residents of Limassolgrad to swim in the sea with patches of their native Russian oil and walk along beaches stained with their native Russian fuel oil. It makes no difference to them where they dive into the oil-polluted sea – in Limassol or Anapa. But Cyprus and the Cypriots are to be pitied. For them, this is a disaster. But they should have understood the consequences of the arrival of the «Russian world» on their island.