Russian strikes on the port caused an ecological disaster in Odesa: the scale of the threat.

According to ТСН: Russia's attacks on the 'Yuzhny' port have caused an ecological disaster in the Odesa region. Due to the damage to the sunflower oil tanks, a significant portion of this product has entered the Black Sea.

This substance spread quickly, causing mass deaths of birds and pollution along the coast.

Ecological disaster in Odesa

As a result of Russian attacks on the 'Yuzhny' port, where oil tanks were located, a leak of vegetable oil occurred in the Black Sea. Due to continuous shelling, specialists were unable to set up spill barriers in time, and the oil patches spread significantly.

'The first two days after the strike, the port was under continuous enemy fire, so the leak localization work could only be partially carried out — exclusively during breaks between air raid alarms and ensuring all safety requirements for personnel,' said the head of the Odesa regional military administration (OVA) Oleg Kiper.

With changing winds, the oil slick covered the beaches of 'Otradna', 'Langeron', and 'Golden Coast'. City services and port administrations are currently working actively to eliminate the consequences of the incident. The waters of the 'Yuzhny' port are closed off with barriers, and special vessels and pumps have been brought in to collect the oil.

Consequences for the ecosystem

Although sunflower oil is an organic substance that can decompose, ecologists consider this case an ecological disaster that has led to mass deaths of animals and serious pollution of the ecosystem.

Birds are the most affected: due to the contamination of their feathers, they lose the ability to fly and die. Many dead birds have already been found on the coast, and volunteers are transferring the survivors for rehabilitation to the Odesa Zoo.

'Otradna' and 'Langeron' are in an oily film. On the shore, dozens of dead birds, mostly little grebes, have been found. The reason for this is Russia. The RF systematically attacks civilian infrastructure, increasingly choosing targets whose destruction can have large-scale ecological consequences: ports, terminals, fuel or oil tanks, warehouses, industrial sites. This is not an 'accidental side effect' — it is a predictable result of strikes against such targets,' emphasized the head of the public organization 'Green Leaf' Vladyslav Balinsky.

He also noted that the Odesa Bay has become a 'trap for pollution' as its shape hinders the dispersion of the oil slick, accumulating it near the shore, which will lead to serious consequences for the region's ecology.

Residents and guests of Odesa are urged to save birds

The director of the Odesa Zoo Ihor Beliakov has continuously urged the public to help rescue birds affected by this ecological disaster.

Although the oil is of organic origin, it tightly glues feathers, depriving them of their insulating and water-repellent properties. This leads to birds losing their ability to fly, freezing, and potentially dying from exhaustion.

'Dear friends, you all already know how terrible the ecological disaster has occurred. Due to the RF strikes, there has been an oil leak, and now there are many affected birds on Odesa's beaches. Some of them can still be saved — their numbers are quite significant. Therefore, I ask you: if you see a bird on the beach that needs help — place it in a box and take it to the zoo,' Beliakov appealed to the public.

He also emphasized the importance of timely actions, as the speed of assistance can affect the survival of the birds.

Meanwhile, residents and guests of the city are asked not to attempt to help the birds themselves, as this may only worsen their condition.

When the oily film on the sea might diminish

Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at NaUKMA Yevhen Khlobystov emphasized in a broadcast on the 'KYIV24' channel that the spill of sunflower oil in the sea poses a serious threat to the ecosystem.

He stressed the need for remote sensing to accurately determine the source and scale of the pollution.

Khlobystov noted that the rate of oil degradation depends on weather conditions and the state of the sea. For example, calm seas can cause more damage than during storms.

'Weather influences first and foremost. Whether the sea will be calm or stormy. Today, the Black Sea is relatively calm. That is, unfortunately, even a small amount of oil that will harm the environment will have a more significant negative effect,' the specialist noted.

Yevhen Khlobystov also added that oil decomposes faster than petroleum, so the oily film on the sea may decrease within 5-7 days.

The ecological situation in the Odesa region has raised deep concerns not only among local residents but also in the international community. The spread of pollution may impact marine flora and fauna, as well as the region's economic activities. The elimination of the consequences of this disaster requires coordinated actions from all stakeholders to ensure the safety of the Black Sea ecosystem.