Oman’s environmental authority said that Vadym Oleynik, a 32-year-old Ukrainian influencer, violated wildlife protection regulations and took legal action against him. Images that circulated appear to show him sitting on a sea turtle as it laid eggs at Ras al Hadd; his partner, Olena Kravchenko, also allegedly climbed onto the turtle’s shell.
Conservationists called the scene exploitation and abuse. The couple was also accused of collecting newly hatched turtles; according to reports, they were accompanied by volunteers who were monitoring the nests.
Claims then circulated that both had been detained, but there was no official confirmation. Oleynik continued sharing images from his vacation and later apologized. He said he hadn’t seen the rules, that he had made a mistake, and that he hadn’t intended to harm the turtle.