Consequences of eco-terrorism by Russia: What will happen to the Black Sea?

Odessa environmental journalist and expert from the National Ecological Center of Ukraine, Vladislav Balinsky, shared this information with Novini.LIVE.

Fuel Oil in the Black Sea

Birds, especially migratory species, are suffering the most from the fuel oil spills from Russian tankers. According to ecologists, these birds are significantly affected because they feed on fish and are forced to dive into oil-contaminated waters. Such contact is extremely dangerous and often fatal.

"It is this upper layer that forms a film on the surface. Moreover, this film covers the largest area. Even a small amount of this substance can affect a vast area. And the birds, being on the surface, collect all these lubricants on themselves. Therefore, it is the birds that suffer first," explains Vladislav Balinsky.

Destruction of the Ecosystem

Russian volunteers claim to have saved about 10,000 birds in a month. However, the ecologist notes that they are downplaying the actual loss figures. The number of birds that did not survive could be no less than 2,000 to 3,000, and these are just preliminary estimates. Birds of various species have been affected, which could significantly complicate the recovery of the local ecosystem.

"They indicate that they have cleaned about 10,000 birds. Of these, they report over two to three thousand, but that is only what they can see. I am sure that in nature, tens of thousands of birds have already perished.", notes the environmentalist.

But not only birds have become victims of the fuel oil spill—marine inhabitants, especially mammals, have also suffered greatly. These animals often surface in search of food and oxygen, and it is there that they encounter the toxic film of fuel oil, making them vulnerable to pollution and life-threatening risks.

"They have very sensitive organs—respiratory tracts, eyes, oral cavities, and mucous membranes. They are constantly at risk of coming into contact with this layer of fuel oil and dangerous vapors—and all of this accumulates in their bodies. Currently, dolphins are in the highest danger zone.", says the ecologist.

The specialist also adds that we will see even greater consequences later when all these poisoned dolphins are found dead along the seashore. Their bodies will decompose and release new toxic compounds.

Rescue of Marine Animals

The expert notes that there is still hope for the birds, and action needs to be taken immediately. However, significant financial resources and the establishment of specialized ornithological centers are necessary to provide medical assistance to the affected birds. Without such centers, saving many birds will be challenging.

"Today, centers should be established with state funding, which should not only provide medical care to these birds but also assist them in adapting for their return to nature. Because, if we look at similar global cases, we can see that birds need not only to be cleaned of the fuel oil; they require a fairly long treatment.", adds the ecologist.

Besides the fact that birds can absorb this fuel oil and find it harder to move, they can also suffer burns that affect the functioning of their entire body. Therefore, according to Balinsky, there must be a very specific approach to treatment, as Ukraine has not yet faced similar ecological contaminants affecting ecosystems and organisms. The adaptation process may be quite lengthy.

"A bird cannot just be returned to nature immediately after being cleaned because its feathers have lost their waterproofing properties. It has a certain fat layer under its down and feathers, which lubricates its wings. Losing this function, the bird will not be able to dive and hunt, which is essential for survival. Moreover, it simply won't be able to stay afloat. We know this for sure because we remember similar cases in 2011 when tens of thousands of birds perished.", emphasizes Vladislav Balinsky.

Monitoring the Water Body

One of the key aspects of animal rescue is the constant monitoring of water quality. Residents of the Odessa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions are already being asked to report cases of fuel oil pollution to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The ecologist emphasizes that such measures need to be implemented immediately, with funding allocated for this purpose. This will help obtain a real picture of the ecosystem's condition and assess the extent of the impact on living organisms.

"We need to do this immediately so that we know whether there is pollution in some part of the Odessa Bay or in Mykolaiv or Kherson regions. Because the fuel oil can accumulate unevenly, and through monitoring, we can proactively eliminate the threat—this is how we will help the animals.", concludes Vladislav Balinsky.

Only a month has passed since the tanker disaster, and the Black Sea ecosystem has already suffered devastating consequences. Many countries are developing plans to eliminate pollutants to save thousands of living organisms, but Russia not only fails to support these measures but also downplays the real scale of the tragedy. Such delays and neglect of the problem lead to further deaths of birds, fish, and mammals. As a result, we risk losing entire populations due to inaction and disregard for these issues.

Let us remind you that we reported on whether Russia will be held accountable for ecological crimes in the Black Sea.

We also mentioned that Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria have agreed on joint steps to overcome the consequences of the fuel oil spill in the Black Sea.