Vegetable oil spills and dead birds found on Odesa beaches after Russian attack
Vegetable oil spills and the bodies of dead birds have been found on two of Odesa's beaches. The pollution was caused by a Russian attack that resulted in the oil spilling into the waters of the Black Sea.
Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Odesa City Military Administration; Office of the Prosecutor General
Details: The contamination, which has affected areas of the Delfin (Dolphin) and Lanzheron beaches, was caused by a Russian strike on the port of Pivdennyi on 20 December which resulted in 13 containers of flour and vegetable oil catching fire.
The contents, along with combustion by-products, entered the waters of the Black Sea, leading to pollution of the coastal zone.
Vegetable oil in seawater forms a surface film that restricts marine organisms' access to oxygen and light and can lead to their death.
The State Environmental Inspectorate and the Odesa Oblast Centre for Disease Control and Prevention are currently monitoring the water quality.
Ihor Biliakov, director of Odesa Zoo, said that a reception point for affected birds has been set up at the zoo where birds will be cleaned, dried and released back into the wild.
"If you see a bird on the beach that needs help and is covered in oil, place it in a box and take it to the zoo. […] Speed is critical – lives depend on it," Biliakov urged.
Many birds have already been brought to the zoo, including great crested grebes and black-necked grebes.
Due to the pollution of the marine area, criminal cases have been opened on suspicion of a war crime (Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Background: In July, large numbers of jellyfish that were visibly contaminated with fuel oil were washed ashore along the Odesa coast.