On April 26, the enemy shelled Chornomorsk in the Odesa region. As a result of the attack, infrastructure at the Chornomorsk commercial seaport was damaged, and oil from a 6,000-ton tank spilled into the Black Sea.
This was reported by the State Environmental Inspection of the Southwestern District.
The tank was destroyed by fire. Services of the Chornomorsk branch of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority managed to quickly contain the consequences of the accident. Among the measures taken by the USPA were blocking storm drains and installing barriers to prevent the oil from entering the aquatic ecosystem. However, the spill could not be prevented.
Source: State Environmental Inspectorate of the South-Western District
What is the situation now?
During their inspection, environmental inspectors determined that the pollution did not reach the soil thanks to the concrete covering of the site.
Nevertheless, an oil slick was identified in the port’s water area. The slick, which floats on the surface, is estimated to measure around 200 by 400 meters. To keep the substance from spreading, the slick has been contained with booms.
The final amount of environmental damage is still unknown, as the environmental inspectorate must collect all the necessary data.
“Inspectors collected marine water samples for laboratory research. The analysis results will make it possible to determine the actual pollution level and prepare a calculation of damages,” the Inspectorate reported.
It should be recalled that an oil spill had already occurred in Odesa region in December 2025. As EcoPolitic reported at the time, Russia also damaged tanks containing the substance. After the attack, the oil continued to “travel” along the coastal waters for quite some time. Part of it was washed ashore at the Tuzlivski Lymany National Nature Park.
