Vadym Oliynyk may call himself a calisthenics champion on Instagram, but after a video surfaced showing him and his partner sitting on top of a sea turtle in Oman, he appears to be a champion of something far less admirable. The Ukrainian influencer Oliynyk — whose Instagram following plummeted from 200,000 to just 70,700 — and his partner Olena Kravchenko, a plastic surgeon, decided it would be a good idea to pose on top of the animal while it was in the middle of laying its eggs. The incident took place in Ras al Hadd, Oman, a coastal area where sea turtles come ashore to nest. Once the footage went public, the backlash was swift and fierce.
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Environmental volunteers were present
According to reports, the two tourists approached the animals and climbed on top of them for photos — despite being accompanied by environmental volunteers stationed in the area to monitor and protect the nesting site.
Photos and videos posted to social media show the pair taking turns sitting on the turtle’s shell as it laid its eggs. In another clip, Oliynyk is seen holding a newborn hatchling while still perched on the adult animal. The footage triggered a wave of outrage across social media platforms, with users condemning the couple for the mistreatment of a wild animal. “They abused an innocent animal for fun,” wrote one user, while others demanded legal consequences.
SHOCKING! Ukrainian athlete Vadym Oliynyk and his partner are facing an investigation in Oman after footage showed them sitting & on a sea turtle while the animal struggled to escape.
Oman's Environment Authority says wildlife protection rules were violated. Oliynyk has… pic.twitter.com/TSjFQFTJWe
— India First Post (@ifpost47) September 28, 2026
Conservation group also criticizes supervising organization
The Italian environmental group Biologicamente, which first brought the incident to wider attention, also directed criticism at the organization reportedly overseeing the nesting site. “A serious and professional organization, with a scientific committee, would never allow volunteers to sit on a turtle’s shell or take selfies with them,” the group wrote in a Facebook post. They described the behavior as reflecting an “unacceptable level of ignorance” and warned that such actions can cause significant stress to the animals and disrupt their reproductive process.
Oman’s authorities launch legal proceedings
The Environmental Authority of Oman announced that the couple’s actions constitute a violation of the country’s wildlife protection laws. Local media reported that authorities have taken the “necessary legal measures” against those involved. Officials also stressed that such behavior poses a direct threat to sea turtles and their natural habitat. Some reports suggested that Oliynyk and Kravchenko had been detained, though this information has not been officially confirmed.
Apology issued, but vacation continues
Following the public backlash, Vadym Oliynyk issued an apology for his conduct. Oliynyk, who also holds the title of Master of Sport in the Russian combat discipline of combat sambo, nonetheless continued posting holiday photos to his social media after the incident.
The case has reignited a broader conversation about how tourists should behave in areas inhabited by protected species — particularly during their sensitive nesting and breeding seasons.
