Ecological Disaster Strikes as Over 30 Dolphins Die in Russian Oil Spill

An ecological crisis is unfolding near southern Russia, where an oil spill has resulted in the deaths of at least 32 dolphins. This tragedy follows an incident involving two tankers that released a heavy oil substance in the Kerch Strait during stormy weather three weeks ago. The spill has raised urgent concerns among environmental officials and citizens alike.

Experts from the Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Centre in Sochi have linked the dolphin deaths to the oil spill. Reports suggest that a total of 61 cetaceans, which include dolphins, whales, and porpoises, have been recorded dead since the disaster began. The centre noted that many of the deceased are from the endangered Azov dolphin species. Preliminary assessments indicate that the majority of these animals likely perished within the first ten days of the incident.

In the wake of this environmental disaster, Russian authorities declared a regional emergency as oil contamination impacted the beaches of Sevastopol, located 155 miles from the initial spill site. Moscow's emergency ministry, along with volunteers, have reportedly removed over 96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil from the areas surrounding the Krasnodar region's Anapa and Temryuk districts. However, estimates suggest that up to 200,000 tons may be tainted by the low-grade mazut oil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled the spill an "ecological disaster," while Ukrainian authorities have condemned the incident and called for heightened sanctions against Russian tankers. The Kerch Strait remains a critical shipping route connecting the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea and has been a point of ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.