What did Vadym Oleynik do? Ukrainian athlete apologizes following backlash over viral sea turtle incident

A social media content creator-turned-fitness influencer, Vadym Oleynik, has drawn serious attention online after a video of him sitting on an adult sea turtle in Oman went viral across social media platforms.

According to International Business Times UK, Oleynik, 32, who is from Ukraine, was also seen holding a newborn turtle in his hand while sitting on the adult sea turtle as it struggled to move forward.

As per reports, Vadym Oleynik's girlfriend was also present with him while the incident took place at one of Oman's protected sea turtle nesting sites known as the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve. According to IBT UK, it was not only Vadym who was caught in the inappropriate and insensitive act, but his partner, Olena Kravchenko, did a similar thing by sitting on the same adult turtle.

As the incident drew major attention on social media and received serious criticism, conservationists and wildlife activists did not take the matter lightly either and condemned it, expressing strong disapproval. As per IBT UK, Ukraine's United For Animals foundation also condemned Vadym Oleynik's action, saying:

"They demonstrated savagery and a total disregard for life: the abuse of a sea turtle while it was laying eggs."

Following the incident and after facing serious backlash online, Vadym Oleynik, who is also a fitness coach and calisthenics champion, took to social media and apologized, reportedly claiming that he was not aware of the rules regarding protected wildlife. Oleynik said:

"I didn't see the rules. I made a mistake and apologize to everyone."

As Oleynik stated, his intentions were not to cause any harm to the turtle; he also took the opportunity to apologize to the Environment Authority of Oman.

Internet reacts to Vadym Oleynik's viral sea turtle incident

Let's find out below what netizens have to say regarding the Ukrainian fitness influencer Vadym Oleynik's recent viral video in which he and his partner are seen sitting on an adult sea turtle:

"Wow! Useless "influencers" are idiots? No way! Who'd have thought?" commented an X user

"Literally sitting on it could have broken its shell and died." an X user wrote

"Did they think it was a chicken, goat or a cow? This is unacceptable." written by a social media user

"He was not misled, he had too few brain cells" commented an internet user

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These are unverified public comments and not the publication's views.

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