Russian fuel oil reached Odesa region — it is getting worse
Significant fuel oil pollution has been reported on the coast of Odesa region, near the Danube Biosphere Reserve and the Tuzly Estuaries National Nature Park. The storm brought ashore the remnants of oil that got into the sea after a tanker accident in the Kerch Strait.
This was reported by environmentalist Ivan Rusev on his Facebook page.
Fuel oil stains in the south of Odesa region
The fuel oil spill has raised concerns among experts. The consequences of this environmental disaster are already threatening the biodiversity and ecosystems of the Black Sea.
"The terrible fuel oil disaster in the Black Sea has reached our Odesa coast. After the storms, the fuel oil spilled after the accident of the Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait washed up on the sandy shore of the resort. I wrote that the consequences of such environmental disasters have no limits and that thousands of tons of fuel oil spilled into the sea will cause a great disaster for the natural ecosystems of the Black Sea and its biodiversity," Ivan Rusev said.
In addition, a bird covered in fuel oil was found in the disaster area, but attempts to transfer it to the Ukrainian Center for Marine Ecology for research were unsuccessful - the institution's management refused because of the risk of Avian influenza.
Environmental implications
The ecologist also adds that this environmental disaster is another blow to the Black Sea, which has already suffered from the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam and the death of tens of thousands of dolphins during the war. The administration of the national park continues to monitor the situation and promises to provide more detailed information on the extent of the spill.
As a reminder, environmentalist Vladyslav Balinskyi wrote that fuel oil slicks were spotted in the Ukrainian Black Sea.
We also reported that Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria agreed on joint steps to overcome the consequences of the fuel oil spill in the Black Sea.