A total of 32 dolphins have died in a Russian oil spill in the Kerch Strait between Crimea and Russia's southern Krasnodar region, an animal rescue group has said.
Why It Matters
Russia's Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center said the deaths of the dolphins, most of which were from the endangered Azov species are "most likely related to the fuel oil spill."
The Kerch Strait serves as a vital global shipping route, linking the inland Sea of Azov with the Black Sea. It has also been a focal point of tension between Russia and Ukraine since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.
What To Know
Fuel oil spilled from two tankers in the Kerch Strait after a storm three weeks ago.
The center identified 61 dead cetaceans, the group of aquatic mammals that includes whales and dolphins, since the oil spill.
It is believed the other 29 of these died before the spill.
"Judging by the condition of the bodies, most likely the majority of these cetaceans died in the first 10 days after the disaster. And now the sea continues to wash them up," the center wrote in a post on Telegram.
How Big is the Oil Spill?
On Saturday, Russia-appointed officials in occupied Crimea announced a regional emergency after oil was detected on the shores of Sevastopol, the peninsula's largest city some 155 miles from the Kerch Strait.
96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil had been removed by officials and volunteers on the shoreline of the Krasnodar region, Russia's Emergencies Ministry said Sunday.
On Dec. 23, the ministry estimated that up to 200,000 tons in total may have been contaminated with mazut, a heavy, low-quality oil product.
Who Owns the Kerch Strait?
Since 2003, Ukraine and Russia have been in dispute over control of the stretch of water.
In 2016, Ukraine brought a case against Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, accusing Moscow of unlawfully attempting to seize control of the area.
In 2021, Russia closed the strait for several months.
What People Are Saying
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the oil spill an "ecological disaster."
Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian adviser, described the oil spill last month as a "large-scale environmental disaster" and called for additional sanctions on Russian tankers.
What Happens Next
Previous oil spills in the Kerch Strait, such as the 2007 spillage which damaged two tankers and killed 23 sailors, had impacts on biodiversity and marine life for years, according to Natalia Gozak, director of the Ukrainian office of Greenpeace.
Gozak told Sky News that she fears the effects of this latest disaster could be just as bad, if not worse. With the total environment damage yet to be fully verified by experts, the future of the strait's wildlife remains uncertain.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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