Footage released by Russia's Southern Transport Prosecutor's Office showed the bow of one tanker completely broken off, with streaks of oil visible in the water.

Both tankers are believed to have drifted before running aground offshore.

At least one crew member was reportedly killed.

The incident took place in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from Crimea the Ukrainian peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014.

A rescue operation involving tugboats, helicopters and more than 50 personnel saw 13 crew members rescued from one tanker, before being suspended due to bad weather.