A Ukrainian fitness influencer has apologized after filming himself and his girlfriend riding a nesting sea turtle in Oman.
Vadym Oleynik, 32, and Olena Kravchenko, a cosmetic doctor, traveled to Ras al Hadd, a coastal area where several sea turtle species come ashore to nest. The couple were accompanied by environmental volunteers monitoring the site when they took turns sitting on the reptile while it laid eggs, according to the footage they posted.
The images, shared with Oleynik’s 200,000 Instagram followers, showed him holding a newly hatched turtle while attempting to balance on the animal’s shell. The volunteers present at the scene did not prevent the interaction.
Italian conservation project Biologicamente was among the first to publicize the incident. The group directed sharp criticism at the environmental organization overseeing the site rather than solely at the tourists.
“An association run in a serious and professional manner, accompanied by a scientific committee, would never allow its volunteers to sit on the shell of a turtle, to take a selfie,” they fumed on Facebook. “I can’t accept such an abhorrent level of ignorance.”
The online response was swift and severe. “What sick scum of the earth!” commented one horrified X user. Another exclaimed, “They ABUSED a sweet, innocent animal for laughs … They should be punished!”
Oman’s Environmental Authority stated that the couple’s actions violated wildlife protection laws and that it had taken “necessary legal action” against those involved, according to local media reports. The authority warned that such behavior could threaten the turtles and their habitat.
Some reports claimed Oleynik and Kravchenko had been detained, though these remained unverified. The fitness influencer continued uploading vacation photos after the incident occurred.
Oleynik, who describes himself as a Master of Sport in combat sambo, a Russian martial art, has since expressed regret. The self-proclaimed calisthenics champion claimed he was misled by the environmental organization and had not intended to harm the turtle.
“I didn’t see the rules. I made a mistake and apologise to everyone,” he said.
The incident has reignited debate about tourist behavior at sensitive wildlife sites and the responsibility of local guides and volunteer organizations to enforce protections. Conservation groups have increasingly documented cases of visitors disturbing endangered species for social media content, particularly in regions where monitoring resources are limited.
Sea turtles are protected under international agreements and face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and human interference during nesting periods. Female turtles return to the same beaches where they hatched, making disturbance during egg-laying particularly damaging to population recovery efforts.
Oman’s Ras al Hadd area serves as critical nesting ground for multiple turtle species, drawing both conservation efforts and tourism. The presence of volunteers at the site where Oleynik and Kravchenko interacted with the turtle indicates an attempt at oversight that nonetheless failed to prevent the incident.