Ukrainian Influencer Sits on Endangered Sea Turtle as It Lays Eggs in Oman, Prompting Legal Action After Viral Video

A holiday photo session on an Omani nesting beach has triggered an international wildlife controversy.

Vadym Oleynik, a 32-year-old Ukrainian fitness creator, was visiting Oman with his partner, Olena Kravchenko, when the pair were photographed sitting on a turtle's shell.

Oman's Environment Authority says it has taken legal action against the individual concerned. Oleynik has apologised, saying he had been misled and did not intend to harm the animal.

Images Trigger International Backlash

Oleynik, a self-described calisthenics champion, was sightseeing with Kravchenko, a cosmetic doctor, in Ras Al Hadd, where several turtle species come ashore to nest.

Photos uploaded to his more than 200,000 Instagram followers appear to show the couple taking turns sitting on a turtle during nesting. The pair were also accused of picking up newly hatched turtles.

Oleynik has since deleted the clip from Instagram, but it was reshared by Channel 5 News. Reports say the couple were accompanied by volunteers from an environmental organisation monitoring nesting in the area. That detail intensified the criticism.

Italian conservation project Biologicamente was among the first to highlight the incident. It said a professionally run association with a scientific committee would never let volunteers sit on a turtle's shell for a selfie. Ukrainian charity United For Animals accused the couple of showing 'a total disregard for life'.

Oman Moves Against the Tourist

The Environment Authority said it had closely followed a video showing a tourist disturbing sea turtles at Ras Al Hadd, in violation of Oman's wildlife protection laws and regulations. The authority issued its statement on 27 September 2026 and said it had taken 'the necessary legal action' in accordance with applicable legislation.

The authority urged citizens, residents and tourists to follow the rules for visiting nesting sites and to avoid touching or approaching the turtles. It also asked the public to report violations.

The statements reviewed do not name the individual, identify a specific offence or set out penalties. Some reports claimed the couple were detained by police, but there has been no official confirmation, and Oleynik has continued posting from his holiday. No charge sheet or court filing has been published.

Why Ras Al Hadd Matters

The Ras Al Hadd area is an important nesting site for green turtles in the Indian Ocean. Four marine turtle species are known to nest on Omani beaches, while the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve was designated a nature reserve on 23 April 1996.

The animal's exact legal and conservation status needs care. Oleynik referred to green sea turtles in his apology.

In October 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature moved the green turtle from Endangered to Least Concern, citing a global population rise of about 28% since the 1970s. Olive Ridley Project notes that green turtles in the North Indian Ocean remain listed as Vulnerable.

Professor Brendan Godley of the University of Exeter said scientists have suggested the species might be considered 'conservation dependent', since it could quickly decline without protection. In 2023, the Environment Society of Oman identified entanglement in abandoned fishing nets as a major threat to nesting adults and hatchlings.

Apology and Unanswered Questions

In a video, Oleynik apologised to Oman's Environment Authority and said he had not wanted to hurt the animal. He also said he had not seen the rules and claimed the organisation involved had misled him.

Biologicamente reported that he had initially defended himself, insisting he had broken no laws. Which organisation supervised the visit, whether its volunteers were present, and what penalties Oleynik faces all remain unconfirmed.

Oman's response highlights the legal risks associated with disturbing wildlife at nesting beaches.