Since the fuel oil spill about three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, at least 32 dolphins have died as a result. The spill occurred near the occupied Crimean Peninsula in the Kerch Strait, where two tankers released fuel oil into the water. The Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Centre in Russia reported that a total of 61 dead cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, had been recorded since the spill. Most of the dead dolphins were from the endangered Azov species. The center noted that the condition of the bodies suggested that 29 of them had died before the spill.
Following the incident, regional officials in Crimea declared a state of emergency after oil was detected on the shores of Sevastopol. The spill affected four beaches in the region, and efforts were made to promptly eliminate the oil by local authorities and volunteers. A regional emergency was also announced in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, where almost 7,000 people were working to clean up the spill. More than 96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil have been removed along the region’s shoreline, with an estimated total of up to 200,000 tons contaminated with mazut, a heavy, low-quality oil product.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the oil spill in the Kerch Strait an “ecological disaster.” The strait, which separates the occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia’s Krasnodar region, is a significant global shipping route connecting the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. However, it has been a point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014. In 2016, Ukraine took Russia to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, accusing them of illegally trying to seize control of the area following the annexation.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, described the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait as a “large-scale environmental disaster” and called for additional sanctions on Russian tankers. The ongoing impact of the spill has led to the deaths of multiple dolphins, including those from endangered species. The spill has also triggered environmental emergencies in both Crimea and the Krasnodar region, with extensive efforts underway to clean up the contaminated areas. Despite cleanup efforts, the long-term consequences of the spill on marine life and ecosystems in the region remain a concern.
The Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Centre noted that the continuing appearance of dead cetaceans along the shore indicated an ongoing impact from the spill, with the bodies likely being washed up due to the disaster. The deaths of the dolphins, particularly those from endangered species like the Azov dolphins, highlight the immediate and long-lasting consequences of the fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait. The spill has also drawn attention to the fragile ecosystem of the region and the need for coordinated efforts to address environmental disasters and prevent future incidents. Addressing the aftermath of the disaster will require ongoing collaboration between local authorities, volunteers, environmental groups, and international organizations to mitigate the impact on marine life and preserve the health of the ecosystem in the Kerch Strait and surrounding areas.
