“The Black Sea ecosystem is on the verge of collapse. Constant deadly military activity – mine explosions, bombing, missile launches and the use of powerful sonar systems, as well as enormous volumes of chemical pollutants, including the consequences of the Kakhovka disaster – is systematically destroying the sea’s unique biodiversity,” the park’s scientists said.

They estimate that around 100,000 Black Sea cetaceans of three species have died in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.