War in Ukraine Kills 120,000 Black Sea Dolphins

Military operations during the Russian invasion of Ukraine have caused the deaths of more than 120,000 dolphins in the Black Sea since 2022. Ivan Rusev, head researcher at Tuzly Lagoons national park, reports that cruise missile launches, explosions, and military sonar systems deafen cetaceans and disrupt their echolocation. This disorientation leaves dolphins unable to communicate, navigate, or hunt, leading to rapid weight loss and starvation.

As dolphins lose weight, they rely on pollutant-heavy blubber, which compromises their immune systems and makes them susceptible to morbillivirus and other lethal respiratory infections. The ecological damage extends beyond cetaceans; underwater explosions have caused food shortages and disorientation for fish populations and migratory birds. The sea is further contaminated by toxic fuel and chemical spills from sunken warships, submarines, and drones, as well as the 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

While Russian environmental monitors attribute the deaths to parasites and viruses, Ukrainian and other Black Sea environmentalists link the mortality to military activity. Decaying dolphins have washed ashore in cities like Odesa, with spikes in deaths also reported in Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkiye. Researchers estimate it will take 30 to 50 years for the cetacean population to recover and for the sea ecosystem to return to normal.