Will Russia be held accountable for the pollution of the Black Sea caused by heavy fuel oil?

Journalist and environmental expert from the National Ecological Center of Ukraine, Vladislav Balinsky, shared this information with Novini.LIVE.

Will Russia be held accountable for the ecological disaster?

Russia may be held responsible for an ecological crime — the discharge of fuel oil into the Black Sea, but this depends on Ukraine's victory and the terms of post-war agreements, according to Balinsky. He also emphasizes that the significance of environmental issues is now assessed not just through moral aspects but also in financial terms.

"We must understand that the world no longer views ecology as something abstract. It is not just about 'birds and flowers' — everything is measured in monetary value", the ecologist points out.

According to him, the prosecutor's office, along with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, is already documenting cases of ecological crimes, determining their scale, and calculating damages.

Compensation for damages after the war

He is also confident that the funds raised will serve as a foundation for the large-scale restoration of the Black Sea, particularly in cleaning the waters, restoring flora and fauna, and implementing measures to improve its ecological condition.

"If these funds are available, we can organize effective programs to improve the state of the Black Sea. Right now, it all depends on how well we can justify our losses on the international stage", the specialist adds.

Balinsky believes that international judicial bodies could be a key tool in the compensation process. If successful, Ukraine will receive not only compensation but also the opportunity to carry out initiatives to enhance the ecological state of the sea.

Ukraine documents ecological crimes

The ecologist also believes that Ukraine's future victory will create an opportunity for ecological justice, which involves not only compensation for damages but also the restoration of the natural resources lost due to Russia's aggression. To make this path a reality, it is essential to continue documenting crimes, demanding compensation, and forming a new approach to ecology as a strategic value.

"If we win, Russia will be held accountable for all its crimes. However, if there are any compromise conditions, we will receive only partial compensation", Balinsky states.

Breakup of Russian tankers in the Black Sea: What is known

Recall that the fuel oil spill occurred after the accident involving two Russian tankers, "Volgoneft-212" and "Volgoneft-239", which split apart during a storm on December 15, 2024, in the Kerch Strait. A total of 8,600 tons of fuel oil leaked into the sea. Due to military actions, ecologists are unable to clean up the oil slick in the sea until it reaches the shore. We also reported that the day before yesterday, a new oil product leak occurred from the stern of the tanker "Volgoneft-239", which is currently aground near the village of Tamanskoye. Oil stains have already been observed on the coasts of Romania, Turkey, and Bulgaria.