KRASNODAR (southern Russia), November 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's emergencies ministry issued on Sunday a new storm warning following a series of shipwrecks in the Sea of Azov in southern Russia.

A strong storm has hit several ships in the Sea of Azov in the past twenty-four hours.

The tanker Volgaeft-139 loaded with 4,000 metric tons of oil broke apart during a storm on Sunday at the port of Kavkaz in the Sea of Azov in southern Russia, with more than 1,000 metric tons of oil leaking into the sea. Another tanker has also been hit by the storm and a crack has been found in its hull. Also, two dry cargo ships loaded with sulfur sank off the port of Kavkaz and a third cargo vessel, Kovel, is currently in distress.

At the same time, the emergencies ministry rejected some media reports that two Russian ships were hit by a storm off the coast of Ukraine's Crimea.

Some media earlier reported incidents with two Russian vessels near Sevastopol and Sudak on November 11.

"No incidents with Russian ships were registered," a ministry spokesman said.