Oman Sea Turtle Outrage Revives Hawaii Case of Ukrainian Tourist Accused of Throwing Rock at Endangered Seal

A sea turtle video from Oman has brought fresh attention to another wildlife case involving a Ukrainian-born man in Hawaii.

According to reports, Ukrainian fitness influencer Vadym Oleynik, 32, apologised after footage showed him sitting on a green sea turtle at Ras Al Jinz. Oman's Environment Authority said legal measures had been taken.

The backlash has also revived discussion of Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, who is awaiting trial over an alleged May encounter with an endangered Hawaiian monk seal.

Oman Takes Legal Action Over Turtle Video

Footage circulated online showed Oleynik sitting on a sea turtle, while his partner, Olena Kravchenko, was also photographed on the animal. Oleynik was filmed holding a hatchling.

Oman's Environment Authority said on 27 September that it had followed up on footage involving the 'disturbance of sea turtles' at Ras Al Jinz. The authority confirmed that 'necessary legal measures' had been taken against the person concerned, while reiterating its stance against practices harming wildlife or natural habitats.

Oleynik subsequently apologised, saying he had not seen the rules. He said he had not intended to hurt the turtle.

The episode has renewed attention around another wildlife case from May involving Lytvynchuk, a 38-year-old Ukraine native and naturalised US citizen. The two incidents are separate, with no evidence connecting the men beyond their Ukrainian backgrounds and the involvement of protected marine wildlife.

Lytvynchuk Accused of Throwing Rock at Seal

The US Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii says Lytvynchuk was filmed on 5 May following a Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina, Maui, before allegedly picking up a rock and throwing it towards the animal's head.

Prosecutors said the rock narrowly missed the seal's nose. According to the complaint, witnesses confronted Lytvynchuk, who allegedly responded that he was 'rich enough to pay the fines'. He was charged on 26 May under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Lytvynchuk pleaded not guilty, and the allegations have not been proven in court.

The unusual connection to the Oman controversy comes from Lytvynchuk's defence. His lawyer, Myles Breiner, said there were two turtles nearby, and his client mistook the monk seal for an aggressive sea lion. Breiner said Lytvynchuk intended to scare the seal away from the turtles rather than injure it.

The Oman footage has made that earlier turtle explanation especially striking as both cases return to attention online.

Hawaii Case Remains Active as Travel Rules Ease

For now, the Hawaii case remains unresolved. A judge eased Lytvynchuk's travel conditions in an order approved on 25 September, allowing him to travel throughout Washington state instead of only its western district.

However, his travel remains restricted. Lytvynchuk may travel to Oahu only for court purposes with advance approval from US Probation and Pretrial Services. According to reports, his trial is scheduled for 16 November in Honolulu.

The Justice Department says that, if convicted, Lytvynchuk faces up to one year in prison on each charge, alongside potential fines. He remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Although online discussion has linked the Oman and Hawaii cases, they remain legally and factually separate incidents, with authorities in different countries handling them. However, the parallels were yet hard to ignore on social media.