Posing on a tortoise struggling to move along a beach in Oman has ‘made’ a couple of Ukrainian tourists famous on social media. Social media users drew attention to this blatant interference with wildlife, whilst our citizens contacted international animal welfare organisations en masse, which brought the matter to the attention of the country’s authorities.
According to a statement from Oman’s Environmental Protection Authority, the incident has already been investigated and certain measures have been taken.
"The necessary legal measures have been taken against the person involved in accordance with current legislation and regulations. The agency emphasises its firm stance against any actions that may harm wildlife or pose a threat to its natural habitat," the agency stated.
A video of “riding” on sea turtles was posted by Ukrainian athlete Vadym Oliinyk. In the footage, he and his partner Olena Kravchenko are seen posing on a live animal as it tries to make its way along the beach at the Ras el-Jins Nature Reserve. This is the only place in the country where you can watch turtles laying their eggs on the beach. ‘Watch’ is the key word here, as contact with the animals is strictly prohibited.
The content has already been removed from the author’s page following a wave of public outcry. However, the video is still doing the rounds online. The footage clearly shows the man not only obstructing the tortoise’s path but also holding the little tortoise.
A Ukrainian couple in Oman literally climbed onto a nesting sea turtle and rode it on the beach.
Omani authorities have already taken legal action against them.
This isn't the first time Ukrainian tourists have abused animals. In May, one of them attacked a seal in Hawaii.
Is… https://t.co/k9jnwKL6bp pic.twitter.com/KLTYF1JARW
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) September 28, 2026
The Italian conservation organisation Biologicamente reported this incident as early as 24 September. It did not draw attention to the tourists’ nationality, but did provide some context. The couple were reportedly accompanied by local volunteers from an environmental organisation that was supposed to be monitoring the turtle population.
"Meet the rotten tourism industry, run by bogus volunteer organisations. It’s so appalling that it needs no explanation: these images speak for themselves. A serious and professional organisation with a scientific committee would never allow its volunteers to sit on a tortoise’s shell to take a selfie,” the post states.
Oliinyk reportedly later apologised for his actions, stating that he “had not paid attention to the rules on how to treat turtles”. It is not known whether he faced any consequences, as he continues to post content from his training sessions and travels on his Instagram even after the scandal.
Ukrainians on social media have strongly criticised this behaviour on the part of their fellow citizens.
"We saw with our own eyes how that poor tortoise laid those eggs. It’s very, very hard. To crawl out of the ocean, dig a hole, lay the eggs, and then swim back to the ocean, completely exhausted… and there’s no guarantee that the shelters will manage to save the eggs from predators. And here, some two people… decided it would be funny to sit their arses on that poor turtle,” noted nastya.sirenko.
"I’ve sent this to every wildlife and sea turtle conservation organisation I could find. I hope they’ll be punished. I’ve also sent a letter to the World Street Workout & Calisthenics Federation (WSWCF) — the international federation that inducted Vadym Oliinyk into its Hall of Fame in 2026. Let them take a look at their champions,” said alina_dikun.
EcoPolitic previously reported that scientists had discovered the first new species of wild cat in a hundred years — the tilkay.
Also, at the Synevyr National Park in Zakarpattia, an exhausted white-tailed eagle – one of Europe’s largest birds of prey – was admitted for rehabilitation.
