A serious one fuel oil spill in the Kerch Straitoff the coast of Crimea, caused the death of at least thirty-two dolphins. The accident, which occurred nearly three weeks ago, involved two oil tankers in trouble which released tons of mazut, a type of heavy fuel oil, into the sea. This event triggered a ecological crisis which had a devastating impact on the marine environment and local fauna.
According to the Russian Dolphin Search and Rescue Center Delfa, the dolphin deaths are likely linked to the oil spill. Among the deceased cetaceans, many belonged to the Azov species, currently endangered.
Experts indicated that most of the animals died in the first days following the disasterwith the sea continuing to return bodies to the beaches. Overall, sixty-one dead cetaceans were found, but about half of these were deaths prior to the accident.
Over 96,000 tonnes of contaminated sand and soil already removed
Russian authorities have stated so regional state of emergency both in Sevastopol and the Krasnodar region, as oil has contaminated numerous beaches. Thousands of people, including volunteers and local workers, were involved in the clean-up operations, with over 96,000 tonnes of contaminated sand and soil already removed. The accident mobilized a massive relief effort to contain environmental damage and restore the affected areas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the oil spill a “ecological disaster”. The authorities estimate that up to 200,000 tonnes of material may have been contaminated by the mazut. The crisis has also reignited concerns about the strategic importance of the Kerch Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea and which has been the scene of geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
In response to the disaster, calls for international intervention and sanctions against Russian oil tankers have increased. Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called the incident a “large-scale environmental disaster”, urging more severe measures against Russian activities in the region. Meanwhile, cleanup operations continue in an attempt to mitigate the consequences of this environmental catastrophe.
