Ukrainian fitness influencer Vadym Oleynik has apologized after video and photos surfaced showing him and his partner sitting on a nesting green sea turtle and handling a hatchling at a protected reserve in Oman.
Oleynik, 32, and Olena Kravchenko were filmed at the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, also known as Ras Al Hadd, in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate. The coastal site is one of the Indian Ocean’s key nesting grounds for green sea turtles.
In the footage, which Oleynik posted to his Instagram account with more than 200,000 followers before deleting it, he sits on the turtle’s shell as the animal appears to try to move away. He holds a hatchling in one hand. Other images show Kravchenko, described in reports as his fiancée and a cosmetic doctor, also seated on the turtle and holding a hatchling. Both appear to smile and laugh during the encounter.
Conservation groups condemned the actions. The Italian project Biologicamente called the behavior “disgusting and unacceptable” and an example of “rotten tourism,” stressing that sea turtles are wild animals that should not be touched or used for photographs. Reports indicated the couple were accompanied by volunteers from an organization monitoring nesting activity; Biologicamente questioned how any serious conservation group would permit such contact.
Oman’s Environment Authority issued a statement on Sept. 27 saying it had followed the circulating video of a tourist disturbing sea turtles in the Ras Al Jinz area. “The necessary legal measures have been taken against the individual concerned in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” the authority said. It reiterated a firm stance against practices that harm wildlife or threaten natural habitats and urged visitors not to touch, approach or disturb turtles.
Oleynik responded in Instagram Stories later reshared by outlets including Channel 5 News. “I would like to send — first of all — my apologies to the Environmental Authority Sultanate of Oman,” he said. “Also for the protection organisation of the green sea turtles I was sitting on.” He added that he had not “seen the rules,” described the episode as a mistake, and said he did not want to hurt the turtle or do anything bad to it. “May God bless all of you and forgive me for my mistake.”
Oleynik was born July 20, 1994, in Ukraine and spent much of his youth in Warsaw, Poland. He describes himself as a calisthenics world champion, fitness coach and Master of Sport in combat sambo. He has competed internationally in street workout and bodybuilding events since at least 2013 and posts training content online. Some reports note he works as a coach in Abu Dhabi. Kravchenko has been identified in coverage as a cosmetologist or cosmetic doctor accompanying him on the trip.
The Ras Al Jinz reserve was established by royal decree in 1996. Ministerial Decision 64/2017 regulates the sanctuary and prohibits night entry without permits, touching or approaching nesting turtles, handling eggs, and using artificial lights after 10 p.m. Guided tours with trained monitors are the only authorized way for visitors to observe nesting. Officials have not publicly named those involved, detailed the specific charges or announced any penalty. Reports that the pair were detained at an airport remain unconfirmed by authorities.
As of early October, Oleynik continued posting other content from his travels and training. The Environment Authority has not released further updates on the legal process.
