Environmentalists discovered oil slicks in the Black Sea off the coast of Odesa (photo)
17.03.2026 - 16:56
Three months after the Russian attack on the port infrastructure, pollution of seawater is still being recorded in the waters of Odesa.
An excess of fats and oils has been detected, the State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District reports.
Thus, on March 12, during an inspection of the waters and coast of the Black Sea within Odesa, in particular in the area of the beaches “Vidrada” and “Langeron”, yellow and yellow-gray stains with a characteristic smell of sunflower oil were discovered.
Specialists took samples of seawater for analysis. According to the results of the studies, the content of fats and oils was found at the level of 49.8 mg/dm³, which confirms the fact of pollution.
“Taking into account the nature of the stains and the scale of their spread, a probable connection with the event of December 20, 2025, when as a result of a hostile attack on port infrastructure facilities, significant amounts of sunflower oil entered the Adzhaliysky estuary. Further spread of the substance could cover part of the Black Sea water area,” the environmental inspectorate reported.
It should be noted that the inspectors informed the relevant services to organize work to eliminate the consequences of pollution. Monitoring of the state of sea water continues.
As previously reported by USM, Greenpeace Ukraine stated that oil pollution can remain on the bottom of the Black Sea for more than six years.
