Ukrainian tourists labeled as ‘scum of the earth’ after filming themselves riding turtle as it tried to lay its eggs

A viral video has sparked fury online after a couple from Ukraine filmed themselves riding a large sea turtle that was allegedly trying to lay its eggs on the beach. The incident occurred in Ras al Hadd, a coastal village in Oman where the marine reptiles had come to nest.

Vadym Oleynik, 32, is a fitness influencer with over 200k followers on Instagram, who claims to be a “X3 Calisthenics World champion” and “Master of sport combat sambo.” His Instagram account is currently set to private. His partner, Olena Kravchenko, is a cosmetic doctor.

The pair had been sightseeing in Oman when they decided to take the controversial video, according to The New York Post. Despite the presence of environmental volunteers at the site, the couple was able to film themselves sitting on the turtles and riding them down the beach, in a typical case of influencers not thinking about how their actions affect others.

The pics and clips were posted to Oleynik’s Instagram, and they quickly went viral. One shows Oleynik and Kravchenko taking turns perching on a turtle as it deposits a clutch of eggs. Another shows the fitness influencer grinning and laughing as he holds a newly hatched turtle and balances on the adult as it moves across the sand. 

Viewers dragged the couple online

While Oleynik and Kravchenko may have thought nothing of it at the time, the rest of the internet thought their actions were disgusting. “What rotten excuse for humans,” one account on X wrote, adding, “What sick scum of the earth!” Others called for the pair to be arrested or punished in some way, with many claiming that their actions amounted to animal abuse.

Well, it seems the couple may well be facing legal repercussions for their actions, as local media reported that they had violated wildlife protection laws and that the “necessary legal action” against the couple was being taken. The Environmental Authority also reiterated that “it will not tolerate any practices that harm wildlife or threaten natural habitats.”

Following the severe backlash online, Oleynik made a video claiming he “didn’t see the rules,” but netizens weren’t willing to let him off the hook so easily. “You don’t have to see signs to know not to do that,” wrote one X user.

Biologicamente, an Italian conservation project also heavily criticized the environmental organization for allowing the couple to abuse the turtles, writing a scathing post on Facebook that read: “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.”

Unverified reports have since claimed that Oleynik and Kravchenko have been detained, but it’s unclear whether or not that is true.

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