This was reported to TASS by the operational services.

"There were about 4.3 thousand tons of fuel on each of the tankers," the source said.

He added that the volume of oil spill is now being determined. Both tankers were seriously damaged, one of them had its bow torn off by a wave.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Crimea, tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 crashed as a result of the storm. One of the vessels, Volgoneft-212, ran aground, sailors were evacuated from it - one of the 13 crew members died. The second vessel drifted and also ran aground 80 meters from the shore. There are 14 people on board, and communication has been established with them.

The Investigative Committee opened two criminal cases, later one of them was reclassified to a more serious composition in connection with the death of a sailor.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listened to the reports and gave instructions on the organization of rescue operations in the Kerch Strait. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has created a working group to eliminate the consequences of the emergency, reports tass.ru.