Oil Spill in Black Sea Leads to Environmental Crisis and Dolphin Deaths

Two Russian oil tankers sank during severe weather, releasing heavy oil that has devastated marine life and polluted coastlines.

Two oil tankers sank on December 15 in the Kerch Strait between the Black and Azov Seas, releasing large quantities of oil into the water.
At least 11 dead dolphins have been found on beaches in Russia's Krasnodar region, with more marine life expected to be affected.
Oil from the wrecks continues to leak, contaminating dozens of kilometers of coastline, including areas of Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014.
Cleanup efforts involve 8,000 volunteers, who have so far removed 17 tons of polluted sand in Krasnodar and 60 tons across eight beaches in Crimea.
Authorities report rescuing 700 oil-covered birds but have not disclosed the total number of animal deaths caused by the spill.