Tragic Toll Over 30 Dolphins Lost in Russian Oil Spill Disaster!

Since the occurrence of a fuel oil spill from two storm-damaged tankers in the Kerch Strait three weeks ago, a total of thirty-two dolphins have tragically lost their lives. The Kerch Strait, a body of water that lies between the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula and the southern Krasnodar region of Russia, has become the site of this environmental catastrophe. This information was reported by the Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center in Russia, which stated that the deaths of these marine mammals are highly likely to be connected to the fuel oil spill.

According to the latest update shared by the rescue group on the messaging app Telegram, a distressing total of sixty-one cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, have been found dead following the spill. However, the center mentioned that the condition of the bodies suggests that twenty-nine of these unfortunate creatures had passed away prior to the oil spill. The center expressed the view that the majority of the cetaceans perished in the initial days following the disaster and that the ongoing recovery efforts continue to reveal their bodies washing ashore. Notably, most of the deceased dolphins belong to the endangered Azov species.

In response to the ecological crisis, the Emergencies Ministry of Russia reported that over 96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil have been cleared by officials and volunteers along the coastlines of the Anapa and Temryuk districts in the Krasnodar region. In light of the situation, Russia-appointed officials in the occupied Crimea region declared a regional emergency after traces of oil were detected on the shores of Sevastopol, the largest city on the peninsula located approximately 250 kilometers away from the Kerch Strait.

As of a recent assessment on December 23rd, the ministry estimated that up to 200,000 tons of mazut, a heavy and low-quality oil product, might have been affected by the spill. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled the incident as an “ecological disaster,” emphasizing the severity of the situation and the urgent need for intervention and remediation efforts.

The Kerch Strait holds significant importance as a crucial global shipping route facilitating passage from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. It has also been a contentious area of geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly following the annexation of Crimea by Moscow in 2014. This territorial dispute led to Ukraine initiating legal proceedings against Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, accusing Russia of unlawful control over the region. Subsequently, in 2021, Russia temporarily closed the strait, further adding to the tensions in the area.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, strongly condemned the oil spill as a “large-scale environmental disaster” and urged the implementation of additional sanctions on Russian tankers involved in the incident. The repercussions of this tragic event extend far beyond the loss of marine life, highlighting the critical

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