Skip to main content
news

Here’s what the giant fuel spill in the Russian Arctic looks like from space

Source: Meduza
At the end of May, an <a href="https://meduza.io/en/feature/2020/06/03/days-later-regional-officials-finally-acknowledge-massive-fuel-spill-in-the-russian-arctic" target="_blank">accident</a> took place at a combined heat and power plant in the Arctic city of Norilsk, in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Krai. Approximately 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled out of a reservoir and spread into the surrounding soil and waterways. Nearly all of the tributaries of the Daldykan and Ambarnaya rivers around the plant are now contaminated with petroleum products. Greenpeace Russia <a href="https://meduza.io/en/news/2020/06/04/massive-fuel-spill-in-the-russian-arctic-caused-more-than-86-3-million-in-damage-greenpeace-estimates" target="_blank">estimates</a> that there is at least $86.3 million in damage to bodies of water in the region alone. After taking several days to respond to the accident, officials in the Krasnoyarsk Krai declared a federal level emergency situation on June 3. Two days later, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry declared that the spill had been contained. Here’s what the spread of the giant fuel spill looks like from space. 
At the end of May, an accident took place at a combined heat and power plant in the Arctic city of Norilsk, in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Krai. Approximately 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled out of a reservoir and spread into the surrounding soil and waterways. Nearly all of the tributaries of the Daldykan and Ambarnaya rivers around the plant are now contaminated with petroleum products. Greenpeace Russia estimates that there is at least $86.3 million in damage to bodies of water in the region alone. After taking several days to respond to the accident, officials in the Krasnoyarsk Krai declared a federal level emergency situation on June 3. Two days later, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry declared that the spill had been contained. Here’s what the spread of the giant fuel spill looks like from space. 
Roskosmos

Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!

Let’s stick together for 2025.

The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. Real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.

Any amount