Russian strike on the port caused an oil spill in the Black Sea: consequences for the ecology.

Damage to port infrastructure in the Odesa region

According to ТСН: As a result of massive attacks by Russian forces on the port infrastructure of the Odesa region, damage to sunflower oil tanks occurred. Due to the breach of the containers, a significant amount of liquid spilled onto the territory of the enterprise and then into the waters of the estuary and the Black Sea.

The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleg Kiper, reported that the rescue services faced significant difficulties in the first days after the attack. Constant shelling by the enemy complicated the work of specialists.

“The first two days after the attack, the port was under continuous enemy fire, so the work to localize the spill could only be carried out partially — exclusively during breaks between air raid alerts and ensuring all safety requirements for the personnel,” noted Oleg Kiper.

Despite the difficult conditions and constant alerts, specialists managed to gradually install protective booms to stop the spread of the stains.

“To prevent further spread of pollution, the administration of the seaport 'Pivdennyi' has closed the port channel with two layers of booms. The waters of Pivdennyi port are temporarily closed until the complete elimination of the consequences of the vegetable oil spill,” the message states.

Special vessels are involved in collecting the oil slick from the water surface, and additional pumps and machines are operating on the shore.

The OVA emphasizes that only vegetable oil has spilled. This is an organic substance that is subject to natural biological decomposition, so there is no question of chemical poisoning of the sea with oil products. However, the incident has affected local fauna.

“Currently, the Odesa zoo has accepted for rehabilitation birds affected by the oil in the water,” reported the regional head.

The State Ecological Inspection of the Southwestern region is conducting constant monitoring of water quality and recording the damage caused to the environment by the war. A final assessment of the pollution scale will be provided by specialists after the completion of all work.

It is worth noting that in Odesa, near the beaches of Delfin and Lanzheron, stains resembling oil were observed, and dead birds were found. Residents reported a persistent smell of oil in the air. Eyewitnesses noted that some ducks that had been washed ashore were unable to stand on their feet, and people tried to save those that survived.

The oil spill incident has become another example of the environmental consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Although this pollution is not chemical but natural, its impact on local fauna and the further state of the water needs close attention. Specialists continue to work on eliminating the consequences, as the safety of the region's ecosystem remains a priority.