Marine mammals are not exempt from the crisis. In the northeastern Black Sea, an alarming rise in dolphin mortality has been reported. While experts are investigating whether the deaths are directly related to oil exposure, they also point to other potential factors, including toxic ship discharges, missile strikes, and infectious disease outbreaks.

The oil slick, already reaching the western Crimean coast, continues to spread toward Odesa and potentially beyond to the shores of Türkiye, Georgia, and Romania. The spill’s impact is not limited to marine life. Experts caution that fish and shellfish from the affected areas may contain toxic substances, posing risks to local fisheries and food safety.

“This is the largest oil spill in Black Sea history in terms of both volume and area affected,” said Dr. Pavlo Goldin of the Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.