Wild footage shows Russian oil tanker sinking in Black Sea

Shock footage has captured the moment a Russian tanker carrying over 4,000 tonnes of oil has sunk in the Black Sea.

A Russian tanker carrying over 4,000 tonnes of oil has sunk in the Black Sea, with shock footage showing the bow of the vessel descending into the ocean and oil spills from the wreck.

Two vessels, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, ran aground on Sunday in the Kerch Strait, a stretch of water between Russia from Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Volgoneft-212, which was carrying 4,300 tonnes of low-grade heavy fuel oil, reportedly split in two after it was hit by a large wave.

Volgoneft-212 split in two after it was hit by a large wave. Picture: Telegram

It was carrying 4,300 tonnes of low-grade heavy fuel oil. Picture: Telegram

Footage shared on social media platform, Telegram, shows the bow of the vessel sticking up in the water as oils appear to spill out among the waves.

Emergency services said one crew member had died in the wreck, while 12 others had been evacuated, France 24 reports.

Efforts to evacuate the 14 crew members of there second vessel, Volganeft 239, were suspended due to bad weather, the Emergencies Ministry said, as per the outlet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a working group to be set up to deal with the rescue operation, according to the BBC.

The Kerch Strait is a key route for the export of Russian goods.

In 2007, another oil tanker, Volgoneft-139, sunk during a storm, spilling around 1,300 tonnes of fuel oil into the ocean.

Thirteen crew members were rescued at the time.