A video filmed at one of Oman’s best-known sea turtle nesting sites has triggered an international backlash, after two Ukrainian tourists were seen sitting on the shell of a female green sea turtle and handling her newly hatched young while she tried to get away.
What The Video Showed
The incident took place at Ras al Hadd (also reported as Ras al Jinz), a coastal area in Oman renowned as a major nesting ground for green sea turtles. Footage shared on social media showed a man sitting on the turtle’s shell as she attempted to crawl toward the water, while a woman nearby laughed and continued filming, according to Ukrainska Pravda. Other clips showed the man holding the turtle’s hatchlings in his hands.
The pair were later identified as Vadym Oleynik, a fitness influencer and self-described calisthenics competitor, and Olena Kravchenko, a cosmetic doctor. The footage, originally posted to Oleynik’s Instagram account, spread rapidly once it was picked up and shared by other users.
A Swift And Angry Response
The reaction online was immediate and largely hostile, with many commenters accusing the couple of animal cruelty and calling for consequences. The Italian conservation project Biologicamente, which first drew wider attention to the video, criticized the behavior directly, arguing that a properly run conservation organization would never allow a volunteer to sit on a turtle’s shell for a photo.
Oleynik later posted a follow-up video apologizing and addressing both Oman’s Environment Authority and the organization responsible for protecting the nesting turtles at the site, per UNN. He said he hadn’t seen posted rules against the behavior — an explanation that did little to quiet the criticism online.
Oman’s Environment Authority Steps In
Oman’s Environment Authority confirmed it had taken legal action over the incident, stating in a social media post that actions disturbing nesting sea turtles violate the country’s wildlife protection laws, according to Gordon. Local authorities also opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, and the couple reportedly deleted the original video and photos once the story gained wider attention.
Some social media posts have claimed the pair were stopped by police at the airport, but that detail remains unconfirmed by official sources, and it’s unclear what, if any, formal penalty the couple may face.
Why Disturbing Nesting Turtles Is Taken So Seriously
Green sea turtles are classified as endangered, and nesting females are especially vulnerable during the process of laying eggs. Disturbing a turtle mid-nest can interrupt egg-laying entirely, cause her to abandon the site, or stress the animal in ways that affect her and future nesting attempts. Newly hatched turtles are similarly fragile; handling them can interfere with natural behaviors, including the instinctive crawl to the ocean that helps orient hatchlings for their first swim.
Ras al Hadd and nearby Ras al Jinz are protected because of their ecological importance as nesting grounds, with designated areas, trained guides, and rules in place specifically to minimize human disturbance to nesting turtles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the incident happen?
At a sea turtle nesting site near Ras al Hadd/Ras al Jinz on the coast of Oman, a protected area known for green sea turtle nesting.
Who was involved?
Vadym Oleynik, a Ukrainian fitness influencer, and Olena Kravchenko, a cosmetic doctor, who filmed themselves interacting with the turtle and posted the footage to social media.
Did the tourists face any legal consequences?
Oman’s Environment Authority stated it had taken legal action and that an investigation was underway. Unverified reports claim the couple were stopped by police, but this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
Why is sitting on a nesting sea turtle harmful?
It can interrupt the nesting process, stress the animal, and in the case of hatchlings, interfere with natural behaviors critical to their survival, such as orienting themselves toward the ocean.
Are green sea turtles endangered?
Yes, green sea turtles are classified as an endangered species, and nesting sites like the one in Oman are protected specifically to safeguard their reproduction.
Did the couple respond to the backlash?
Yes. Oleynik posted an apology video addressed to Oman’s Environment Authority and the conservation organization overseeing the nesting site, saying he hadn’t seen posted rules against the behavior.
Sources: Ukrainska Pravda (“В Омані українські туристи для відео каталися на морській черепасі: влада почала розслідування”), UNN, and Gordon.ua, all reporting from late September 2026.
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