The full -scale invasion of Russia was affected not only in Ukrainian cities and forests, but also in the state of the Black Sea. According to Dr. Biological Sciences, Deputy Director of the Institute of Maritime Biology of the NAS of Ukraine Viktor Demchenko in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, over the last three years the sea has experienced a number of environmental blows that have already caused serious violations in marine biocenoses.
The first blows on the sea began in 2022 - explosions in ports, flooding of ships, falling of military equipment in the water area led to local oil spills. Fat spots on the surface of the water not only contaminated the environment, but also blocked the access of oxygen. This caused hypoxia - a phenomenon that is dangerous to marine organisms, including fish, shellfish and even birds that feed on marine inhabitants.
In 2023 the situation changed, but not for the better. The breakthrough of the Kakhovska hydroelectric power station poured a lot of fresh water into the sea. Such a sharp shift of salinity has become a powerful stress for many species adapted to a stable salt regime. The whole populations of marine organisms were on the verge of survival.
In the winter of that year, two Russian tankers sank in the Kerch Strait, releasing more than 8,000 tons of heavy fuel oil. Part of this toxic mass reached the coast of Odessa region, significantly worsening the condition of coastal biotopes. The contamination has affected both microorganisms and greater marine creatures - from algae to dolphins.
Now the situation is complicated by the increase in water temperature. This accelerates the dissolution of petroleum products and even lifts from the bottom the remains of fuel oil, which have settled there for years earlier. Scientists emphasize that petroleum products are one of the most dangerous pollutants of the marine environment, and their control and monitoring should be permanent.
Despite the war, Ukrainian scientists continue to monitor the state of the Black Sea. The work is complicated, but lasts. Researchers are looking for new ways of cleaning and protecting ecosystems to preserve at least some of the unique natural wealth of the country.
