Oily slicks and dead birds have been found on the beaches in Odesa. Relevant services are working at the scene. Experts are working to determine their size.
Vladislav Balinsky, head of the Green Leaf NGO, said:
“The beaches of Otrada and Lanzheron were the most affected – they are covered with an oily film. There are dozens of dead birds on the shore, mostly Lesser White-fronted Geese.”
The disaster was caused by missile and drone strikes on the Allseeds terminal.
A fire broke out in the Pivdennyi port in Odesa region on December 22 as a result of a Russian army strike on the region, setting about 30 containers of flour and vegetable oil on fire.
Oil tanks were damaged, and open sources report that thousands of tons of oil were spilled. Balinsky emphasized that attacks on civilian infrastructure, including ports and terminals, systematically create large-scale environmental risks. The Gulf of Odesa, as a natural “trap” for the surface film, keeps the pollution on the coast, making it difficult to eliminate it. Even with variable winds, the film will remain within the bay, and contaminated areas can expand along the coast. Balinsky advised urgently assessing the risks of oil entering the Kuyalnik estuary and, if necessary, shutting off the seawater supply.
The ecologist warned that the consequences for the ecosystem, the city, and the economy will be significant and will last for a long time. This is not an accidental incident, but a predictable result of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure.
According to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper, for the first two days after the strike, the Pivdennyi port was under continuous enemy shelling, so spill localization efforts could only be carried out partially – exclusively during breaks between air raid alerts and with strict adherence to all safety requirements for personnel. During this period, specialists gradually installed boom barriers. Immediately after the pollution was detected, all relevant services were promptly involved in eliminating the consequences.
According to him, to prevent further spread of pollution, the port channel has been blocked by two layers of boom barriers by the forces of the Pivdennyi Sea Port Administration. Specialized fleet and vessels for collecting pollution from the water surface are involved in the work.
“The waters of the Pivdennyi port are temporarily closed until the complete elimination of the consequences of the vegetable oil spill. A final assessment will be provided after the complete localization of the consequences,” the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration stated, adding: “We specifically emphasize: this concerns vegetable (sunflower) oil – an organic substance that undergoes natural biological decomposition”.
After all circumstances are established, the damage caused to the environment will be calculated. Based on the results of the calculations, engineering and environmental expert examinations are planned, the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office noted.
Currently, the Odesa Zoo has taken in birds for rehabilitation that were affected by the oil entering the water.
