32 dolphins have died since an oil spill near southern Russia, experts say
Thirty-two dolphins have died since fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, an animal rescue group said Sunday.
Russia’s Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center said the deaths are “most likely related to the fuel oil spill.”
The center said on the messaging app Telegram that a total of 61 dead cetaceans — an order of aquatic mammals that includes whales and dolphins — had been recorded since the emergency, but the condition of the bodies suggested that the 29 others had died before the spill.
“Judging by the condition of the bodies, most likely the majority of these cetaceans died in the first 10 days after the disaster. And now the sea continues to wash them up,” the center wrote, noting that most of the dead dolphins were from the endangered Azov species.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said Sunday that over 96,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil had been removed by officials and volunteers along the shoreline of the Krasnodar region’s Anapa and Temryuk districts.
Russia-appointed officials in Moscow-occupied Crimea announced a regional emergency on Saturday after oil was detected on the shores of Sevastopol, the peninsula’s largest city some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Kerch Strait.
On Dec. 23, the ministry estimated that up to 200,000 tons in total may have been contaminated with mazut, a heavy, low-quality oil product.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the oil spill an “ecological disaster.”
The Kerch Strait is an important global shipping route, providing passage from the inland Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
It has also been a key point of conflict between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014. In 2016, Ukraine took Moscow to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, where it accused Russia of trying to seize control of the area illegally. In 2021, Russia closed the strait for several months.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, described the oil spill last month as a “large-scale environmental disaster” and called for additional sanctions on Russian tankers.
Trump administration changes course on in-person requirements for Social Security
After announcing social security recipients would be required to appear in-person at office locations, the Trump administration is now backtracking.
Jillian Lauren: What we know about police shooting of Weezer bassist’s wife
Jillian Lauren suffered a non-life-threatening injury this week when police shot her in her yard after they say she pointed a gun at them. Details about the incident in Los Angeles are still emerging.
House approves budget framework, kickstarting work on Trump’s domestic agenda
House Republicans narrowly adopted a multitrillion dollar budget framework on Thursday, paving the way for lawmakers to begin work on many of President Trump's top policy priorities.
Where do tariffs stand? A look at what’s in place and what’s on pause
Trump announced a 90-day pause on most country-specific tariffs, but left other duties in place. Here's a look at where things stand and what could happen next.
Shark attack survivor presses Alabama for an alert system to keep people safe in the water
Lulu Gribbin was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle. On Wednesday, she asked Alabama lawmakers to support a proposed shark attack alert system.
Reflections after 43 years in an Alabama prison
James Jones is one of thousands of men who served life without parole in an Alabama prison. He spent 43 years at the St. Clair Correctional Facility before being released at the age of 77.
