Volunteers Rescue Oil-Soaked Birds as New Petroleum Slick Hits Russia's Black Sea Coast
Volunteers in Anapa, Russia, are actively rescuing birds contaminated by a new petroleum slick that has recently washed ashore on the Black Sea coast. Goar Avanesova, a volunteer leader, stated that the pollutant differs from the heavy fuel oil spilled in late 2024, describing it as thinner and fresher, though its exact composition remains under investigation. Authorities, including the Emergency Situations Ministry and Kuban-SPAS, are coordinating cleanup efforts, which Avanesova described as organized and responsive. However, additional volunteers are needed for hands-on rehabilitation work. The slick, first spotted 11 kilometers offshore in early April, resulted in over 200 dead or injured birds found between April 11 and 12. Krasnodar Krai authorities attributed the spill, estimated at 300 to 350 tons of petroleum products, to Ukrainian drone strikes on civilian vessels in the Black and Azov seas. This incident complicates recovery efforts following the December 2024 tanker sinkings in the Kerch Strait, which spilled thousands of tons of fuel oil and led to beach closures in Anapa during the 2025 summer season.
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Volunteers Rescue Oil-Soaked Birds as New Petroleum Slick Hits Russia's Black Sea Coast
Volunteers in Anapa, Russia, are actively rescuing birds contaminated by a new petroleum slick that has recently washed ashore on the Black Sea coast. Goar Avanesova, a volunteer leader, stated that the pollutant differs from the heavy fuel oil spilled in late 2024, describing it as thinner and fresher, though its exact composition remains under investigation. Authorities, including the Emergency Situations Ministry and Kuban-SPAS, are coordinating cleanup efforts, which Avanesova described as organized and responsive. However, additional volunteers are needed for hands-on rehabilitation work. The slick, first spotted 11 kilometers offshore in early April, resulted in over 200 dead or injured birds found between April 11 and 12. Krasnodar Krai authorities attributed the spill, estimated at 300 to 350 tons of petroleum products, to Ukrainian drone strikes on civilian vessels in the Black and Azov seas. This incident complicates recovery efforts following the December 2024 tanker sinkings in the Kerch Strait, which spilled thousands of tons of fuel oil and led to beach closures in Anapa during the 2025 summer season.
Meduza.io